Wednesday, May 23, 2012

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Delivers Ashes to be Buried in Space

Two men who made space their lives are also making space their final resting place. Their ashes - and those of about 300 others - were aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket that blasted into orbit Tuesday as part of an in-space for-profit burial business.
James Doohan, Scotty from "Star Trek," spent his acting career whizzing through the cosmos.
Gordon Cooper was one of America's famous Mercury seven astronauts.
Some people's ashes that flew Tuesday, including those of James Doohan, were also on a botched 2008 SpaceX launch that didn't get the remains into orbit and dropped into the Pacific Ocean. This is a makeup flight for them.
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The ashes were in a special container, which SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell confirmed Tuesday was in the second stage of the Falcon rocket. That section of the rocket was jettisoned about 10 minutes after launching a capsule full of supplies for the International Space Station. It will remain in orbit for about a year then burn up as it returns to Earth.

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