"Vulcan Rocket to Launch Ashes of US Presidents and 'Star Trek' Icons into Lunar Orbit"
Celestis Inc. is set to launch the remains of 330 individuals, including historical figures like George Washington and members of the "Star Trek" cast, into space as a permanent memorial. The Enterprise Flight will deposit some remains on the moon and send the rest into deep space to orbit the sun. The mission, which costs up to $13,000 for deep space orbit, represents a first in commercial deep space missions and fulfills personal wishes for space exploration enthusiasts, including the late artist Luise Kaish. The launch is scheduled for 2:18 a.m. Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida.