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Celestis

USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Celestis 11
Celestis 11
Credit: Manufacturer Image

American burial-in-space service. Celestis offers the the opportunity for the space-smitten to have (a portion) of their cremated remains to be put into orbit. Space burial satellite for Celestis, USA. Launched 1998-2001. Used the Orion-38 motor bus.

More at: Celestis.

Related

Country
USA
Spacecraft
CPAC
Agency
OSC
Bibliography
2, 552, 554

Chronology

6 events

1997 April 21

11:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Gando. Launch Complex: Gran Canaria DZ. Launch Pad: 27.0 N x 15.3 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.
  • Celestis - . Payload: CPAC. Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft: CPAC. Decay Date: 2002-05-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 24780 . COSPAR: 1997-018B. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 553 km (343 mi). Inclination: 151.00 deg. Period: 96.00 min. Air dropped in Gran Canaria DZ..

1998 February 10

13:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Taurus. Launch Vehicle: Taurus 2210.
  • Celestis-02 - . Payload: Celestis-02/Orion 38. Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Pegasus-3. Spacecraft: Celestis. USAF Sat Cat: 25160 . COSPAR: 1998-007D. Apogee: 876 km (544 mi). Perigee: 780 km (480 mi). Inclination: 108.00 deg. Period: 101.50 min.

1999 December 21

07:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Taurus. Launch Vehicle: Taurus 2110.
  • Celestis-03 - . Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Pegasus-3. Spacecraft: Celestis. Decay Date: 1971-03-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 26034 . COSPAR: 1999-070C. Apogee: 571 km (354 mi). Perigee: 550 km (340 mi). Inclination: 98.28 deg. Period: 95.86 min. Burial satellite containing cremated human remains..

2001 September 21

18:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Taurus. Launch Vehicle: Taurus 2110. FAILURE: A problem a few seconds after first stage separation caused the rocket to go off course; it recovered and the remainder of the stages fired, but final cutoff velocity was too low to reach a sustainable orbit..
  • Celestis-4 - . Mass: 368 kg (811 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Orbimage. Manufacturer: OSC. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Pegasus-3. Spacecraft: Celestis. COSPAR: F010921D. Celestis-4 consisted of two Celestis burial canisters containing cremated human remains. After the launch vehicle failure Celestis guaranteed a relaunch of back-up remains..

2008 August 3

03:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein OM. LV Family: Falcon. Launch Vehicle: Falcon 1. FAILURE: The new Merlin 1C first stage engine completed its burn, but the thrust took longer to decay than expected. It was still thrusting when stage 2 tried to separate, and the two stages collided, setting the second stage tumbling..

2012 May 22

07:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC40. Launch Pad: SLC40. LV Family: Falcon. Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9.
  • Celestis 11 - . Mass: 7.00 kg (15.40 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Burial. Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Pegasus-3. Spacecraft: Celestis. Decay Date: 2012-06-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 38349 . COSPAR: 2012-027B. Apogee: 298 km (185 mi). Perigee: 253 km (157 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 90.00 min. Released from the Dragon spacecraft. Carried some of the ashes of Star Trek actor James Doohan, among others..