DNA From 4 American Presidents Will Launch to Deep Space

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DNA From 4 American Presidents Will Launch to Deep SpaceDNA From 4 American Presidents Will Launch to Deep Space. Credit: Glenn Beltz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Four former United States presidents will have their DNA sent into space as part of a special memorial flight by Celestis, a Texas-based space burial company. The announcement was made on President’s Day in a Celestis blog post on February 20th.

George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan will all have their symbolic remains included in Celestis’ upcoming deep space remembrance Enterprise Flight.

Star Trek Legends and Sci-Fi Superstars on Deep Space Remembrance Flight

The presidential DNA samples will be added to capsules alongside the cremated remains and DNA samples of several deceased Star Trek legends and science fiction superstars.

These include Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Star Trek engineer James Scotty Doohan, and “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” VFX master Douglas Trumbull, among others.

The inclusion of Jein and Justman’s remains adds to the already impressive list of influential names set to make this historic journey.

All of these capsules will be launched sometime this year inside a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The special flight is designed to honor the legacies of these famous individuals and serve as a tribute to their contributions to science fiction and space exploration.

Last November, Celestis expanded its tribute journey to include two more renowned names in the science fiction industry.

Greg Jein, the VFX mastermind who created many models for the Star Trek series, and Star Trek producer Robert H. Justman, who was known as Gene Roddenberry’s “right-hand man,” will now have their remains included in Celestis’ first-ever Enterprise Flight.

Enterprise Flight to Carry Over 200 Flying Capsules

The Enterprise Flight is expected to travel deep into space, beyond the Earth-moon system, ranging from 93 million to 186 million miles (150 million to 300 million kilometers).

#DNA from American #presidents Washington, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan will launch into deep space in 2023.
In this way, @celestisflights wants to honour the four presidents, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, "2001: A Space Odyssey" VFX master Douglas Trumbull and others. pic.twitter.com/t6HhHVSyPE

— OrbitalToday.com (@SpaceBiz1) February 27, 2023

Over 200 flight capsules will be included in this honorary memorial mission, containing cremated ashes, DNA material, personal messages, and heartfelt greetings from international clients.

This unique tribute journey is designed to pay homage to the legacies of these iconic individuals and their contributions to science fiction and space exploration.

Vulcan Rocket to Carry Out Multiple Important Missions

The United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket set to carry Celestis’ Enterprise Flight on its historic journey will also have another important mission.

The rocket’s primary objective will be to nudge Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander toward the moon’s surface.

After completing this task, the Vulcan Centaur’s upper stage will continue on its journey into deep space, eventually entering orbit around the sun and becoming humanity’s most distant outpost, Enterprise Station.

But the Vulcan rocket’s mission doesn’t end there. In addition to Celestis’ memorial flight, the rocket will also be carrying two prototype satellites for Amazon’s internet constellation, Project Kuiper.

This constellation aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to underserved communities around the world. The inclusion of Amazon’s Project Kuiper on the same rocket as Celestis’ historic Enterprise Flight further emphasizes the significance of this upcoming launch.

Launch of 2023 Enterprise Flight Making a Lasting Impact

The 2023 Enterprise Flight is poised to make a lasting impact, both in terms of space exploration and in providing essential services to those in need. The launch is eagerly anticipated by the scientific and space communities and is sure to be a momentous occasion for all involved.

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