Elysium Space
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Space burial services |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Thomas Civeit |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Space burial services (orbital and lunar) |
Elysium Space operates as a space burial provider, presenting options such as placing remains into Earth orbit with a subsequent atmospheric reentry burnup, as well as delivering them to the surface of the Moon. This company holds the distinction of being the pioneer in offering burial services on the Moon.
History
Established in 2013 by Thomas Civeit, Elysium Space encountered an early challenge in 2015 when a launch using a USAF Super Strypi rocket failed to achieve orbit; the cremated remains from that attempt are intended for a future relaunch. Their service entails sending cremated ashes into a Sun-synchronous orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. These ashes remain circling Earth for roughly two years before reentering the atmosphere, producing a shooting star phenomenon.
Memorial spacecraft
The company employs Elysium Star satellites—1U cubesat units engineered as orbital mausoleums—to transport cremated remains. These satellites orbit for about two years before disintegrating during atmospheric reentry. For lunar interments, Elysium Space intends to utilize the Peregrine lunar lander developed by Astrobotic. Furthermore, they are investigating possibilities for burial services extending into deep space.
Missions
| Mission | Payload | Date | COSPAR ID | Launcher | Destination | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORS-4 | Elysium Star I 1U CubeSat |
2015 | n/a | Super Strypi | Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) Reentry shooting star |
Failure | Did not reach orbit; expected atmospheric decay within two years. |
| SSO-A | Elysium Star II 1U CubeSat |
2018 | 2018-099C | Falcon 9 | SSO Shooting star |
On Orbit | Satellite remained secured in dispenser due to licensing timing; orbit decay anticipated in two years. |
- Missions targeting the Moon and beyond Earth orbit remain in planning stages without scheduled dates.
See also
- Celestis, another provider of space burial services