Here’s Why Hair Samples From JFK, Other Presidents are Headed to Deep Space

Hair Strands of the U.S. Presidents Launched Into Space

As space missions evolved, space burials became a new option for where people’s remains could rest. A company introduced an unusual idea involving sending hair samples from John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George Washington into deep space. This unique approach focused on sending ashes into space to honor those who had passed away. American officials were prepared to make this bold move and mark a memorable achievement in space history. We explored this experiment in detail.

Hair Samples Flying to Space

The Houston Chronicle reported that hair samples of Presidents John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and George Washington had been sent into space by Celestis' 'Star Trek' mission. The company aimed to help future generations learn more about U.S. history. Colby Youngblood, president of Celestis, told the Chronicle, "It was feasible, from a scientific point of view, that future researchers could find this flight capsule and study what was in it. We felt it was an honorable tribute to those three presidents to put them on this first historic mission."

Honoring the Dead

Knewz.com noted that this was not the first time Celestis had carried out such a mission; it had previously sent DNA and cremated remains into space. According to the website, the mission was set to launch more than 150 flight capsules containing cremated remains (ashes), DNA samples, and messages from clients worldwide on an endless journey through interplanetary space. Furthermore, Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles M. Chafer said in a statement last year, "We were very pleased to fulfill, with this mission, a promise I made to Majel Barrett Roddenberry in 1997 that one day we would fly her and her husband, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, together on a deep space memorial spaceflight."

Celestis—Sending Ashes to Space

Since 1994, Celestis has been working to honor loved ones by launching their ashes or DNA samples into orbit or beyond. Their services included sending these remains along with personal messages into space, providing a heartfelt tribute. Their flights started at around $3,000 and were meant to offer a meaningful and lasting memorial. According to The Hill , company stated, "Off-world DNA storage allowed the human genome to be preserved for thousands of years in space without degradation. This meant it was possible it could be discovered later, like a cosmic 'time capsule.' This could have allowed future generations to learn more about the U.S. forefathers millennia into the future."

Increased Demand for Space Burials

The concept of space burials had entirely changed traditional funeral practices. People could then use this service to bid their final goodbye by sending their loved one's remains into space, a place as vast and boundless as the universe, according to Eirene Cremations . These funerals not only offered a unique tribute but also kept memories alive in a way that regular burials could not. Many believed that when souls were sent into space, they became part of the vast cosmos, celebrating the person's legacy and impact.