A groundbreaking startup, Space Beyond, is planning to send the ashes of up to 1,000 individuals into Earth’s orbit by October 2027, offering a dramatically more affordable space memorial service with prices starting around US$249 per person.
The venture seeks to democratize space burials, enabling families to send a symbolic portion of cremated remains into orbit aboard a tiny CubeSat as part of a shared ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission.
The Dawn of Affordable Space Memorials
Founded by former Blue Origin engineer Ryan Mitchell, Space Beyond has secured a launch services agreement with Arrow Science & Technology to integrate its 1U CubeSat for a Transporter-22 Falcon 9 rideshare launch in October 2027.
Unlike traditional space burials, which can cost thousands of dollars per participant, Space Beyond’s rideshare approach and CubeSat design have significantly lowered the price, making memorial spaceflight accessible to many more families.
A Historical Perspective on Space Burials
Space memorial services have been offered since the 1990s by companies like Celestis, which have placed portions of remains into orbit on dedicated flights.
While these early services remained expensive, Space Beyond’s model leverages small satellites that can ride on shared commercial launches — a trend that has driven down access costs in space missions more broadly.
How the Service Works
Space Beyond’s CubeSat will carry around one gram of ashes per participant, optimizing limited payload space while enabling hundreds to be included on a single mission.
The satellite will orbit Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit for approximately five years before burning up upon re-entry, providing a symbolic end to the memorial mission.
For safety and debris mitigation, the company does not disperse ashes into space; instead, they remain securely contained within the CubeSat throughout the mission.
Impact on Families and Future Implications
By dramatically reducing cost and leveraging rideshare launch economics, Space Beyond aims to broaden access to space-based memorials, offering a new way for families to honor loved ones with a symbolic orbital tribute.
As the commercial space launch market continues to evolve, ventures like Space Beyond illustrate how falling costs and innovative mission designs can create new personal and cultural applications for space beyond science and tourism.
Alfred Lee
