Sad crash: space capsule with 166 ashes fallen into the sea!

Eine private Raumkapsel mit den Überresten von 166 Verstorbenen stürzt nach missglückter Rückkehr in den Pazifik ab.
A private space capsule with the remains of 166 deceased crashes into the Pacific after an unsuccessful return. (Symbolbild/DNAT)

Sad crash: space capsule with 166 ashes fallen into the sea!

The private space travel once again drew attention to itself through a failed undertaking. The “NYX” spacecele, which was launched on June 23, 2025 by the Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, crashed into the Pacific Ocean when he returned. The remains of 166 deceased and cannabis samples for research purposes were on board the capsule.

The capsule NYX should carry out a symbolic burial in space. It was started as part of the "Mission Possible", an initiative by the German start-up The Exploration Company, which specializes in the development of return systems. The remains were prepared by the US company Celestis, which specializes in space burials and would like to address the families of the deceased to check alternative options.

failed re -entry

The capsule initially performed according to the expectations before experiencing an anomaly shortly before the planned watering in the Pacific. Although communication could be restored after a short re-entry blackout period, the parachute system of the NYX failed. This led to the capsule opened in the ocean with its valuable load, which resulted in the loss of the ash and the DNA samples. The social implications of this incident are considerable, since many members of the deceased now have to worry about the symbolic connection to their loved ones.

Celestis expressed that the families concerned could possibly find consolation because their relatives have become part of a historical project. Nevertheless, it is a hard blow for The Exploration Company, as this is already the second mission of the company and want to learn from the incident in order to make future flights safer.

additional aspects of the mission

In addition to the remains of the deceased, the NYX also transported cannabis samples from the Martian Grow project. These should be used for research on the cultivation of hemp in space, which adds additional dimensions to the tragedy of the incident. The unusual combination of the cargo shows how diverse the use of space could be in the future, even if this is currently being questioned by this setback.

The cause of the failure of the parachute system is currently being examined. Technology experts at The Exploration Company are working on analyzing the anomalies and making necessary adjustments to avoid similar incidents in the future. Until then, it remains called up to observe the developments and to take into account the various dimensions of modern burial culture, which have gained in importance in recent years through projects such as that of Celestis, as well as on evati.de.

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OrtPazifischer Ozean, USA
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