Visualization of the Enterprise Station spacecraft which can journey into infinite area with the DNA samples onboard (Credit score: SWNS)
HOUSTON — 4 late U.S. presidents are heading into outer area — effectively, kind of. It could sound like an episode of the cartoon “Futurama,” however these aren’t humorous speaking heads in a glass jar. The DNA of George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan shall be on board a spacecraft launching later this yr.
Houston-based memorial spaceflight firm Celestis, Inc. say their historic Enterprise Flight — which they name “humanity’s first deep area time capsule” — will carry what they consider is authenticated DNA from every of those former commanders in chief.
Hair samples of those presidents shall be on this spacecraft, which will even comprise DNA and cremated stays of greater than 200 people – together with “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and the legendary science fiction present’s unique solid members Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and DeForest Kelley. Curiously, these actors attended the revealing of NASA’s Enterprise area shuttle again in 1976 — a craft named for his or her famous-but-fictional vessel. They’ll now all journey to area for actual.
Apollo astronaut Philip Chapman and particular results grasp Douglas Trumbull are additionally among the many “guestlist” on the flight.
Containers holding the DNA of U.S. Presidents and Star Trek solid members (Credit score: SWNS)
How did they discover DNA from these presidents?
The presidential hair samples, which have been initially from the Louis Mushro assortment, together with the related Certificates of Authenticity, have been gifted to Celestis by an nameless donor for the aim of being included on a deep area mission.
Celestis officers say Louis Mushro was a widely known celeb hair collector and appraiser who constructed a world popularity because the skilled on this area earlier than his passing in 2014. The hair samples have been in a climate-controlled facility for a number of years in preparation for this mission.
“Our Enterprise Flight is an historic mission by any normal,” explains Charles M. Chafer, Co-Founder & CEO of Celestis, Inc., in an announcement offered by SWNS. “The overarching aim of Celestis is to help human growth all through the photo voltaic system. By including the DNA of those American icons to Enterprise, we set up a precursor for future human missions, and add to the historic document of human exploration of deep area.”
Visualization of the Enterprise Station spacecraft which can journey into infinite area with the DNA samples onboard (Credit score: SWNS)
On its maiden voyage, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket will raise off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, put a lunar lander heading in the right direction for its rendezvous with the Moon, and proceed right into a heliocentric (photo voltaic) orbit across the Solar later this yr.
As soon as the Centaur V stage achieves this orbit, the Enterprise Flight shall be renamed Enterprise Station and turn into mankind’s furthest area outpost. From there, it is going to journey endlessly, “maybe awaiting discovery by a distant in time civilization,” Celestis officers add.
South West Information Service author Dean Murray contributed to this report.