Celestis, a Texas-based company specializing in space memorial services, has announced a new milestone in its operations. In 2026, the company plans to launch another Voyager mission called Infinite Flight, which will send human ashes and DNA samples into a permanent orbit around the Sun. For this project, a new partner has been chosen—American company Stoke Space, which is developing the Nova rocket. The launch is scheduled for late 2026 from Space Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral.
This mission is set to become the second commercial space odyssey in Celestis’ history to send human remains and genetic material beyond the Earth-Moon system. The first such expedition, Enterprise Flight, took place in 2024 and drew global attention, as it carried the remains of famous individuals, including Star Trek actors and even three former US presidents.
Infinite Flight is designed to travel up to 185 million miles from Earth, allowing the capsules with ashes and DNA to remain in interplanetary space forever. Organizers emphasize that each of these missions is not only a way to memorialize loved ones, but also a symbol of humanity’s expanding presence in the Solar System.
Technology and partners
The Nova rocket, developed by Stoke Space, is a two-stage, fully reusable medium-lift launch system. The company is based in Kent, Washington, and was founded by former Blue Origin engineers Andy Lapsa and Tom Feldman. The first orbital test flight of Nova is scheduled for 2026, and this rocket is set to carry Celestis’s memorial payload into heliocentric orbit.
Celestis CEO Charles M. Chafer notes that choosing Nova is not just a technological leap, but also a significant symbolic step. According to him, Voyager missions allow every story sent into space to become part of a greater human legacy, and using one of the most advanced rockets highlights the company’s commitment to innovation.
Mission management for the launch is handled by Ensemble. Celestis already has experience collaborating with various space operators: previous launches used United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets. However, not all missions have gone smoothly—in summer 2024, the Nyx capsule from The Exploration Company failed to return to Earth due to parachute issues, resulting in the loss of part of the memorial payload over the Pacific Ocean.
Future plans
Celestis is not limiting itself to missions to Earth orbit or heliocentric trajectories. Last month, the company announced it is now taking bookings for the unique Mars300 flight, which aims to deliver human DNA into orbit around Mars. This project could launch as early as 2030 if a suitable launch provider is found.
A Houston-based company is rapidly expanding its range of services, offering clients not only the launch of ashes, but also genetic material to the most remote parts of space. This approach allows not just preserving the memory of a person, but making them part of the history of space exploration.
Celestis became the first company in the world to offer such services. In nearly thirty years of operation, it has sent the remains and DNA of thousands of people into space, including both ordinary citizens and celebrities, scientists, artists, and politicians.
The significance of the mission
“Infinite Flight” is not just a technological challenge, but a new perspective on how humanity can preserve its legacy. Organizers emphasize that every capsule with ashes or DNA is a unique story that will now live forever, orbiting the Sun. For many participants and their families, it is a chance to become part of something greater than earthly existence.
Stoke Space, in turn, sees its partnership with Celestis as an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of its new rocket and contribute to the advancement of commercial space launches. The company is betting on fully reusable vehicles, which should lower launch costs and make space more accessible for new projects.
As preparations for the launch ramp up, anyone interested can already reserve a spot for ashes or DNA aboard the upcoming mission. Organizers promise that “Infinite Flight” will be one of the most memorable events in the history of space memorial flights.
In case you didn’t know, Celestis is an American company founded in 1994 that specializes in space memorial services. Over the years, it has sent the remains and DNA of more than 1,500 people into space, including famous actors, scientists, and politicians. The company offers various programs, ranging from suborbital flights to interplanetary missions. Celestis was the first in the world to realize the idea of space burial and continues to develop new directions in this unique field.
