Celestis Space Burial — Missions, Pricing, and Contract Details

Who Celestis Is

Celestis, Inc. was founded in 1994 and operates as a secondary payload broker: it purchases space on commercial rockets operated by launch providers like SpaceX, ULA, and Astrobotic, then fills that space with individual memorial capsules.

Celestis has completed over 20 memorial spaceflights, carrying remains of everyone from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and astronaut Gordon Cooper to private individuals. The company is the most established player in the space burial market, though it is not the only one — Beyond Burials, Elysium Space, and the Titan Space Program also offer memorial flights.

Mission Types and Pricing

Celestis offers four distinct mission tiers:

Earth Rise (Suborbital) — $1,495: The capsule reaches space, experiences zero gravity, and returns to Earth. The remains are recovered and returned to the family. This is the most affordable option; launch timing depends on the mission schedule.

Earth Orbit — $4,995: The capsule enters low Earth orbit and circles the planet for months or years before re-entering the atmosphere. During re-entry, the capsule burns up, creating a brief streak of light — essentially a shooting star. Remains are not recovered.

Luna (Lunar Mission) — $12,995: Remains are delivered to the surface of the Moon or lunar orbit. These missions depend on lunar lander availability and have the longest timelines.

Voyager (Deep Space) — $12,995: The capsule is placed on a trajectory that leaves Earth orbit permanently, entering a heliocentric orbit around the Sun. The remains travel through deep space indefinitely.

All prices are per participant. Families can also opt for DNA-only missions using a pre-mortem cheek swab, which is useful for families whose religious traditions prohibit cremation but who still want a space memorial.

The Contract: What to Read Carefully

The 60/40 deposit split. Celestis uses a pre-need trust account through ClearPoint Federal Savings Bank to hold 60% of pre-paid funds. The remaining 40% is classified as an "earned deposit" and is non-refundable from the moment you sign. If you cancel for any reason after signing, you lose that 40%.

Launch failure guarantees. If the launch vehicle fails to reach its designated orbit, Celestis guarantees a free re-flight on the next available mission. To support this, the company requires you to submit an extra portion of remains, which they store in a secure terrestrial archive. The Peregrine Lander failure in January 2024 — where the Astrobotic spacecraft developed a fuel leak and never reached the Moon — triggered this provision for Tranquility Flight participants.

Mission completion definitions. Understand how Celestis defines a "successful" flight. Some provider agreements treat a single Earth orbit as completion, while other agreements may differ. If the craft reaches orbit but decays sooner than expected, the contract controls whether the mission is considered complete.

Timeline expectations. Celestis does not guarantee specific launch dates. Missions are scheduled based on available rides on commercial launches, and those schedules shift frequently. The wait from contract signing to launch can be months to years, especially for lunar and deep-space missions.

The Launch Experience

Celestis invites participating families to attend launches in person, typically at Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg Space Force Base. The company organizes a multi-day event that includes a memorial ceremony, a tour of the launch facility, and the launch viewing itself.

For families who cannot travel, Celestis provides livestream access. After launch, orbital tracking data is available so families can follow the spacecraft's position in real time.

What to Consider

Celestis is the most proven provider in this market, with the longest operational track record and the most completed flights. The trade-offs are the non-refundable deposit structure, the long and uncertain timelines, and the irreversibility of the process once ashes are shipped.

For a broader comparison of space burial providers and alternative creative ash options — including memorial diamonds, reefs, and solidified remains — our guide walks through every option side by side.