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Location: south east Michigan | If all goes well tommorrow somewhere in the desert southwest, a rocket will blast off into space bearing the ashes my nephew, Chad.
He'll be in good company, James (Scotty) Doohan will also be making the trip. |
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Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Wow. I'm very sorry to hear about your nephew Brad. That's the way I would like to leave this world as well.
Mike |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | 'Ad Astra' |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | I intend to leave this world kicking and screaming...
Brad, sorry to hear about your nephew, but a great last resting place.... |
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March 2004
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Location: Houston, Texas | I intend to leave this world kicking and screaming... Moody, if you kick and scream too much they won't be able to get you in the payload cannister. :D
I just did a little research on this out of curiosity and I'm a little disappointed with the lack of details available about the flight, at least for the small amount of time I spent searching. Apparently this is a suborbital flight, meaning they ain't gonna stay up there. The idea is to launch them up to an altitude that is customarily, although somewhat arbitrarily, deemed to be "space" (about 60 miles), and then retrieve the payloads, which descend by parachute, and return them to the families. Kind of like the first Merucury missions. Partial remains of about 200 people are on this flight with an approximate cost of about $600 to $1000 each.
However, I've been unable to find out just how far down range they end up, and since they are launching from New Mexico, it kind of leads me to believe that its not very far downrange, kind of a straight up and down type thing.
The idea of my ashes floating through space forever I guess has some appeal to me, but I'd rather be alive if its just going to be a 15 minute trip. :rolleyes:
Still pretty exciting, I hope it goes well Brad. |
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Location: big island | bummers to end up in mexico and your ashes get used for some kinda sidedish or as an "herbal" smoking concoction. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Uhh, well I didn't want to mention that this is only the second flight of this type of launch vehicle. The first test flight went pretty much ok but didn't meet the altitude requirement, it needed about three more seconds of engine thrust to reach "space". :mad: |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Uh, Bailey!!
Looks like you'll be having some visitors...
Most likely I'll end up in hole with some nice shrub planted over me so that when the river rises my wealthy Widow won't have to bury me the second time... |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by MWoody:
Most likely I'll end up in hole with some nice shrub planted over me so that when the river rises my wealthy Widow won't have to bury me the second time... The only way some of our wives will be wealthy is when they sell off our guitars. :D |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Slipkid:
If all goes well tommorrow somewhere in the desert southwest, a rocket will blast off into space bearing the ashes my nephew, Chad.
He'll be in good company, James (Scotty) Doohan will also be making the trip. Brad,
Sorry about your nephew. I can hear Scotty now,"Captain I've got to have more power". |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I ask this only for informational purposes, and don't mean to cause you any pain, but what happens when he gets into space?
Does the space urn blow up and then the ashes rain on the earth, does it go into orbit, does it come back to earth via parachute or does it just keep hurtling into the cosmos?
I'll keep my fingers crossed for him, whatever happens. Seems to me he'd want to stay up there and gently rain down on the earth, kind of romantic (in the poetic sense). |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I kinda wanted to be dealt with the Old Way...
Just leave me where I lie, and let the critters take care of me.
Or, the Other Old Way...
The Long Boat, soaked in oil and Mead, pushed out onto the Fjord.
Then the flaming arrows. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Thanks everyone for your thoughts.
I'll try to supply more details tommorrow. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | I just hope that whatever you or your family does to bring you Salvation , brings all of you peace and rest to all. God Bless You & Your Family.GWB |
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Location: south east Michigan | more info |
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Location: Houston, Texas | God Speed, Chad. |
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Posts: 5576
Location: big island | aloha brad,
as i re-read my post above, it seems a bit insensitive and that certainly was not my intention.
please accept my apologies.
warmest regards,
randy |
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Location: south east Michigan | no problem Randy. |
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January 2006
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Location: Michigan | Hey Brad , I just took a look at the site and it rally brings a tear to my eye after reading and putting a face to a person.Such a great loss for you but what a great gain to the place he will be going. Our condolances GWB |
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Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Condolances, Brad.
Dave |
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March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | The Legacy Flight posted from the previous link is the one that is shot just up to sub-orbital space and returns. The canisters are then retrieved and returned to the families.
The Explorers Flight will be shot into orbit where it will remain for an indefinent period before returning and burning up in the atmosphere. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Chad will be on that flight, also. |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | A memorable tribute. Condolences to you and your family. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | The flight made the local and CBS Sunday Morning news. My thoughts were with you and your family, Brad. |
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March 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | From the website:
Legacy Launch Success!
Celestis, Inc. is pleased to announce the successful launch of our Legacy Flight on April 28th from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Over 300 guests and media representatives from around the world witnessed the flawless launch of an UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket carrying more than 200 participants into space.
Congratulations Brad, it sounds like it was successful. That is kind of a nice tribute to anyone who has had an interest in space exploration. |
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OT..... To the Stars!