Maybe you've been dying to go to space. But would you consider going to space after you died? More and more people are choosing to launch cremated ashes into the cosmos. KB Pr S Carrie Klein set out to learn why and how

Maybe you've been dying to go to space. But would you consider going to space after you died? More and more people are choosing to launch cremated ashes into the cosmos. KB Pr S Carrie Klein set out to learn why and how

Wendy Yang always admired her older sister Cai Vang. She was a person who really loved living the autonomy of life. They grew up in Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley as an adult. Cai lived in San Francisco and when she wasn't working, she traveled to more than 40 countries. One of the most proudest accomplishment while traveling was climbing in Mount Everest. But in 2020 when Cai was just 43 she was diagnosed

Wendy Yang always admired her older sister Cai Vang. She was a person who really loved living the autonomy of life. They grew up in Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley as an adult. Cai lived in San Francisco and when she wasn't working, she traveled to more than 40 countries. One of the most proudest accomplishment while traveling was climbing in Mount Everest. But in 2020 when Cai was just 43 she was diagnosed

cervical cancer. We found out in May and November she passed. But before she did, Wendy says, Psy told her she wanted to be cremated and put Wendy in charge of dispersing the ashes. Wendy considered dropping them out of a plane or scattering them at sea. But then I was like, well, what about space? And that's how she came to be standing near Vandenberg's Space Force Base on the central coast earlier this summer as a rocket carrying her sister's ashes

cervical cancer. We found out in May and November she passed. But before she did, Wendy says, Psy told her she wanted to be cremated and put Wendy in charge of dispersing the ashes. Wendy considered dropping them out of a plane or scattering them at sea. But then I was like, well, what about space? And that's how she came to be standing near Vandenberg's Space Force Base on the central coast earlier this summer as a rocket carrying her sister's ashes

prepared to blast off a company called Celestis was in charge. It specializes in so called memorial space flights. They packed less than a teaspoon of size ashes into a tiny capsule, the size of a watch battery. Then that and 62 capsules with other people's remains were tucked into a satellite and placed in a rocket and that launched into the sky as Wendy and other family members watched

prepared to blast off a company called Celestis was in charge. It specializes in so called memorial space flights. They packed less than a teaspoon of size ashes into a tiny capsule, the size of a watch battery. Then that and 62 capsules with other people's remains were tucked into a satellite and placed in a rocket and that launched into the sky as Wendy and other family members watched

21 ignition

21 ignition

when the satellite reached orbit. Wendy finally felt relief. She found herself telling her sister you can go, you know, you can go, you can go. Now this satellite will orbit the earth for 3 to 5 years before it falls and burns up in the atmosphere.

when the satellite reached orbit. Wendy finally felt relief. She found herself telling her sister you can go, you know, you can go, you can go. Now this satellite will orbit the earth for 3 to 5 years before it falls and burns up in the atmosphere.

The company's least expensive space flight costs $3500. That's less than half the median cost of a traditional funeral. And viewing Celesta's President Colby Youngblood says that's the goal to make space accessible for everyone even if that's after death,

The company's least expensive space flight costs $3500. That's less than half the median cost of a traditional funeral. And viewing Celesta's President Colby Youngblood says that's the goal to make space accessible for everyone even if that's after death,

which ironically is how the creator of the original Star Trek TV show Gene Roddenberry visited space.

which ironically is how the creator of the original Star Trek TV show Gene Roddenberry visited space.

The final frontier. Celeste was the first to offer memorial space flights in 1997. Youngblood says they've sent up the remains of more than 2000 people and demand is increasing skyrocketing literally to use the pun. So is demand for cremation.

The final frontier. Celeste was the first to offer memorial space flights in 1997. Youngblood says they've sent up the remains of more than 2000 people and demand is increasing skyrocketing literally to use the pun. So is demand for cremation.

Barbara Chemi of the Cremation Association of North America says that's partly because Americans are becoming less religious and they move more and so having a cemetery with generations of family members may be less critical and cremation may be more appealing. All that has sparked creativity and how people honor the remains. Chemi says encasing them in jewelry is popular. I know of an artist who incorporates the cremated remains into paint

Barbara Chemi of the Cremation Association of North America says that's partly because Americans are becoming less religious and they move more and so having a cemetery with generations of family members may be less critical and cremation may be more appealing. All that has sparked creativity and how people honor the remains. Chemi says encasing them in jewelry is popular. I know of an artist who incorporates the cremated remains into paint

and can paint a portrait ashes can be packed into fireworks and even shotgun casings often way to memorialize somebody is to go out on that first day of hunting season and include them in the hunt one last time. I mean, you dream it, somebody will make it happen for you. Right. Wendy Yang's dream was for her sister Cy to keep on traveling. But she didn't realize Psy's space flight would change her worldview too when it dawned on me that my sister's orbiting,

and can paint a portrait ashes can be packed into fireworks and even shotgun casings often way to memorialize somebody is to go out on that first day of hunting season and include them in the hunt one last time. I mean, you dream it, somebody will make it happen for you. Right. Wendy Yang's dream was for her sister Cy to keep on traveling. But she didn't realize Psy's space flight would change her worldview too when it dawned on me that my sister's orbiting,

it just kind of felt like there's someone up there that loves me. You know, she says she'll never look at the sky the same again for the California report. I'm Carrie Klein in Fresno.

it just kind of felt like there's someone up there that loves me. You know, she says she'll never look at the sky the same again for the California report. I'm Carrie Klein in Fresno.