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From: ecl@ahuta.UUCP (ecl)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.misc,net.sf-lovers
Subject: Space Burial
Message-ID: <406@ahuta.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Jan-85 10:33:45 EST
Article-I.D.: ahuta.406
Posted: Tue Jan 29 10:33:45 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Jan-85 06:53:29 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
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Xref: watmath net.space:3542 net.misc:7367 net.sf-lovers:5842

The latest venture of Space Services, Inc. (owner of the Conestoga rockets) is

			***Space Burial***

Yes, you can be buried in space!  Just have someone send your cremated remains
("cremains," as they were called in the news story on NPR this morning) to SSI
(not to be confused with the Princeton-based Space Studies Institute, also
called SSI), and they will further reduce them to fit into a capsule
approximately 1" by 1-1/4" which will be inscribed with your name, social
security number, and (optional) religious symbol of your choice.  Then a
capsule containing several thousand of these will be placed into low earth
orbit (through the Van Allen Belt, which has very little satellite traffic).

Oh, yes--the nosecone will be reflective so that your loved ones can, with the
aid of a telescope, watch your remains cruise through the sky.

(The cost of all this is $3900, which SSI claims is not much more than an
earth-based funeral.  Of course, there's the cost of cremation on top of
that, and the telescope,...)

This brings a whole new meaning to the hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee"!

					Evelyn C. Leeper
					...{ihnp4, houxm, hocsj}!ahuta!ecl