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Burial

The first space burial took place on April 21, 1997, when the cremated remains (cremains, or ashes) of twenty-four people were launched into Earth orbit. The Houston-based company Celestis, Inc. performed this historic space memorial service. Approximately seven grams of ashes from each individual were placed into a lipstick-sized flight capsule. Each capsule was inscribed with the person's name and a personal message. The capsules were then placed in the memorial satellite—a small satellite about the size of a coffee can. The memorial satellite was launched into space aboard a commercial rocket and placed into Earth orbit.

Celestis has continued to launch a memorial satellite every year since 1997. Many families choose the space burial because their loved ones had wanted to travel in space in their lifetimes. Each successive satellite has included more individuals as news has spread of this unique space-age service.

As of this writing, Celestis is the only company in the world launching ashes into space. The high cost of getting goods into Earth orbit (thus the small amount of ashes actually launched) and the strict regulations and permits necessary to conduct this novel business have helped to limit competition. In addition, as the space memorial service itself is new and unusual, it requires increased public knowledge and acceptance for the industry to grow.

Factors that encourage the growth of space memorials include the rising numbers of cremations worldwide. According to the Cremation Association of North America, almost seven million cremations a year take place in industrialized nations, and that number is increasing. Canada experienced a 25 percent increase in cremations from 1996 to 2000, and the United States had a 24 percent increase in the same time period. Presently, 45 percent of all deaths in Canada, 26 percent of all deaths in the United States, and almost all deaths in Japan (99 percent) lead to cremation.

There are several reasons for the increase of cremations over burials. The 1995 Wirthlin Report, sponsored by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council, states that one-fourth of survey respondents would choose cremation because it is less expensive than a traditional burial. The next reason cited, by 17 percent of the respondents, was for environmental considerations—cremations use less land, which could be better used, for example, for agriculture to feed the world's population.

One might wonder about the space environment and all the memorial satellites in orbit—are they a type of orbital debris cluttering space? The memorial satellites do not remain in orbit forever. They are eventually drawn by gravity back to Earth, where they burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere.