The Nyx capsule launched successfully on June 23 into Space. It carried the ashes of 166 people and a stash of cannabis seeds. These seeds came from Martian Grow’s citizen science project. The capsule orbited Earth twice with no issues.
However, during reentry, TEC lost communication. Then, the capsule crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The capsule sank, and all contents dispersed at sea including both human remains and cannabis seeds.
Celestis led the memorial flight. It marked their first mission designed to return ashes from orbit. CEO Charles Chafer expressed regret. He said families could take solace in knowing their loved ones orbited Earth. But he also acknowledged the deep sense of loss.
Amazingly, besides ashes, the capsule carried cannabis plant matter. The goal: study microgravity’s effect on seed germination. The experiment aimed to help future Martian farming. Now, the seeds lie lost at sea. This twist adds a quirky, surprising edge to the tragedy. Space and cannabis fans will note the irony of their joint demise.
TEC hailed technical gains: capsule launch, orbit, stabilization, re-entry, and post-blackout communication. They called the mission a “partial success.” They also admitted their parachutes or re-entry systems failed causing the crash.
The company formed an independent team to investigate the root cause. They also vowed to apply lessons to future missions and relaunch “as soon as possible.”
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Families await updates on next steps. Celestis and TEC have committed to support them. They will explore options but full recovery seems unlikely.
Chafer and TEC’s CEO Helene Huby apologized. They praised the team’s bravery and commitment. They emphasized transparency as they work toward future flights.