Space Beyond plans to send 1,000 people’s ashes to space by 2027, making the service affordable at just $249 each.
Mitchell got an idea while attending an ash-spreading ceremony for a family member. He thought, “How can I make this better?” That thought led to the creation of Space Beyond and its “Ashes to Space” program. This program plans to send 1,000 people’s ashes to space using a CubeSat, a small satellite. Space Beyond made a deal with Arrow Science and Technology to launch this CubeSat on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in October 2027.
Sending ashes to space isn’t new. Other companies did it before. But Space Beyond wants to do it affordably, starting at just $249, while other companies charge much more. Customers will need to arrange for cremation elsewhere.
How did they make it cheap? The rideshare model helps a lot. Small CubeSats can get rides on bigger rockets for much less money. That’s why many companies can try new things in space now.
Even with the lower prices, some think they aren’t charging enough. But Mitchell doesn’t want to make a fortune. He aims to help people during hard times but not get rich.
There are rules about how much can be sent. Each person can send only one gram of ashes to space. This keeps costs down and allows more people to join. The CubeSat will only stay in orbit for about five years before burning up in the atmosphere. Mitchell thinks this fiery end is a nice touch, even if customers can’t see it.
They won’t spread the ashes in space. That could create debris, which is a big problem. But families can do what they want with the rest of the ashes.
Mitchell had many ideas when he left Blue Origin last year. He wanted to do many things, from being a launch director to becoming a Kava bartender. But this idea kept pulling him back. He realized it made sense after careful consideration. His wife even said, “I could have told you that weeks ago. You can’t stop talking about this.”