The day that Eduardo, the father of Federico Britohe told his son what it was his last wish in life, he was already aware of the rapid advance of cancer on his organs. He knew he didn’t have much time. That’s why he hurried: “When I die I want you to send my remains to heaven to see my nieces from above”he told her in early 2021, just a month before he died.
The request – which could sound like something rather symbolic – I was serious. And she knew she was entrusting him to someone who could meet him: a space enthusiast and rocket parts manufacturer which, I had no doubts, could send it -literally- to infinity and beyond.
Months after his early departure and in the midst of the pain of loss, Federico Brito found in that nostalgia for his father a push to start something big. And it was then that he promised to work to transform that concept of travel into a real journey. go to heaven when leaving life on the earthly plane.
He succeeded: he is the first Latin American to make the sending both the ashes of people and pets into space Through satellites which are put into orbit at more than 500 kilometers from Earth.
“The spirit of our service is to give the opportunity to transcend to the plane of the planet. We do both ash shipping and of digital files: can be sent photos and messages and have them stay in space for years,” Brito says in dialogue with Clarin. For his sci-fi sounding epic, founded the company “Last journey, your star in the sky” (meaning “Last journey, your star in the sky”).
The first take off was on January 3rd on a flight called Liberty Flight. From Cape Canaveralmain center of space activities, a rocket transported the satellite which transported, inside a special module, to you are passengers.
They were all Argentines and natives of Buenos Aires who were immortalized beyond the atmosphere by the only company in the region to offer the service: among them Eduardo Brito, Federico’s father, e India, a Bearded Collie (or ‘Bearded Collie’) which is one of the few dogs that have gone into space.
“The ashes are placed in a module that has several individual cells. Enter one gram per compartment. This device is then attached to the satellite and taken into space a Space X rocket [la empresa de Elon Musk] which leaves it in orbit. The satellite has a propulsion system that makes it stay in space for at least five years”, he details.
As Brito explains, the design of the module in which the ashes travel varies according to the number of passengers. The one used in the first flight was a Cylindrical capsule of 150 gramswhich was 90 millimeters in diameter by 2 in height.
“The assembly of the module, the machining and rehearsals take place in Buenos Aires. It undergoes destructive testing and we verify its compliance rules not to contaminate the space. We do it here because I am a defender of Argentine technology,” he is proud.
And let’s get back to the smallest details. “Every cell on the form is identified with the personal data or the pet and also bring digital files that the family chooses, which are uploaded a memory. The day of take off the link is shared so they can follow him live and then they can see their loved one’s location through the NORAD app, which has their coordinates,” she points out passionately.
How much does it cost to carry a loved one’s ashes into space?
Federico Brito insists it is reluctant to publish their rates -he doesn’t even have them on his company website- because he doesn’t like “the idea that the project it looks like something commercial”.
“I prefer it to be something symbolic, born with the purpose of giving the service of transcending. Spatial times are different”, says the person who chooses to talk to each client and to treat the subject “delicately”.
However, he agreed to share a rank with Clarin of the estimated prices for the service.
“Sending the ashes into space is around $2,500 a gram”, he counted.
The price varies depending on several factors. One of them is to which orbit they want to send the remains. It can be LEO or GEO.
The difference between these is distance to what they are from Earth: the first, where the flight went, is at a huge distance From 400 to 2,000 kilometres; while the second is even further, 37,000 km.
“For the latter, the rates are around $5,000. We provide both services. Generally, a satellite in LEO can spend 5 to 10 years in and around orbit GEO between 50 and 100 years”, explained the founder of Last Trip.
The amount can be paid by relatives after the death of your loved one, but also you can rent the service onlinecome on and go and pay for it in various installments.
Like sending a person’s remains into space
to exist three ways to send the ashes of a person or a pet into space. The first option is to bring all files cremation urn to the company in person and that they themselves take the sample to take into space. Then they can leave the change stored in a special place they offer or take it with them.
Another option is ask the funeral home take charge of the shipment of the ashes, which can take place by post, and not be present at the time of opening to take the sample. In this case they can also request the return of the rest of the urn or ask for it to be kept.
The last option is to ask the company the special KIT they offer to the family to take the sample. Then they send it to the right place and Last Trip continues the process.
How to send digital files and capture photos in space
Federico Brito points out: “We also provide the space transport service of digital files only, such as photos, messages, music, digital art, advertising space, NFTthat anyone wants to archive in space, and be able to see in real time from their PC or mobile phone”.
In this case the price is lower. Nicolás López, considered the best skydiver base jump from Argentina, chose this option to send a photo of him when he jumped from the obelisk and became the first man to do so.
Along with her, he sent a picture of his family and one of his best friends, also a paratrooper Jimmy Pouchert who died in an accident in 2022 and who was throwing a big party in the United States to celebrate life.
Source: Clarin
Linda Price is a tech expert at News Rebeat. With a deep understanding of the latest developments in the world of technology and a passion for innovation, Linda provides insightful and informative coverage of the cutting-edge advancements shaping our world.