Spacecraft carrying the ashes of 166 people crashes into the Pacific Ocean

(Dan Tri) - A funeral company providing space burial services lost all of these special goods and could not recover them.

All of the special cargo on board fell into the sea and could not be recovered (photo: The Exploration).

The Exploration Company (TEC), a German startup, launched its “Mission Possible” spacecraft on June 23. Its precious cargo included the remains of 166 people, whose ashes were sent into orbit by Celestis, a Texas-based space burial company.

The Nyx space shuttle launched by The Exploration company crashed into the Pacific Ocean , losing the ashes of more than 166 people along with a quantity of cannabis seeds (photo: SpaceX).

“Although the spirits successfully orbited Earth twice, an anomaly occurred and the spacecraft was lost shortly after entering its next orbit,” Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles M. Chafer wrote on the company's website.

He added that an investigation is underway to determine why the Nyx capsule fell into the Pacific Ocean and spilled its contents into the sea. “Due to this unforeseen event, we will not be able to recover or return the cargo holds to the ship,” he said.

The company said the capsule “launched successfully, powered the payloads in orbit, stabilized itself after separation from the launch pad, returned and re-established contact after losing power.” But immediately afterward, the company suddenly “lost contact” with the spacecraft “minutes before it hit the water.”

Company representatives confirmed that everything on board the ship has not been recovered since it crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

This special cargo ship was launched by Celestis, a space burial company based in Texas, USA (photo: SpaceX).

The ashes were lost along with a collection of cannabis products and seeds. The plants were brought up as part of the “Growing Plants on Mars” scientific project aimed at studying the possibility of growing cannabis on Mars.

According to the company’s website, it had only launched one spacecraft into space before Nyx. In reflecting on the incident, the company said it had been somewhat successful in both its time and cost efforts. However, its partial success reflected both the ambition and risk of its innovation.

The company said it will leverage the technical results achieved and lessons learned from a thorough investigation of the recent failure to prepare for a return to flight as soon as possible.

Mr Chafer said the company had been in contact with the families “to provide support and discuss possible next steps”.

He also hopes that families will "find peace in knowing that their loved ones took part in a historic journey, launched into space, orbited the Earth and are now resting in the vast Pacific Ocean, in a traditional and respectful scattering of ashes at sea.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/tau-vu-tru-cho-tro-cot-cua-166-nguoi-roi-xuong-thai-binh-duong-20250707003134239.htm