In a heartbreaking turn of events, The Exploration Company (TEC), a startup based in Bavaria, is currently investigating the mysterious loss of a space capsule that was set to return the ashes of 166 people to their loved ones.

The mission, dubbed the "Nyx Mission Possible", aimed to honor the deceased by delivering their remains back to Earth after orbiting our planet twice in late June. However, an anomaly occurred during the re-entry process, leading to the capsule's unfortunate disappearance.

What Went Wrong?

TEC has provided updates regarding the tragic mishap, stating that they managed to re-establish communication with the capsule post-reentry blackout, which is common due to extreme heat. Yet, they lost contact again when the capsule was at an altitude of 26 kilometers, just moments before the parachutes were scheduled to deploy.

To delve deeper into this unfortunate event, an independent investigation team has been assembled. TEC has expressed their commitment to transparency by promising to share the findings with clients, investors, and internal stakeholders.

A Note of Regret

In a heartfelt message to their clients, TEC issued an apology, acknowledging the trust placed in them to handle such sensitive payloads.

Voices from the Industry

Charles Chafer, co-founder and CEO of Celestis—a Texas-based company specializing in memorial spaceflights—indicated that this was the first attempt to perform such a reentry. He expressed profound disappointment over the circumstances, stating, "We share in the disappointment of our families, and we offer our sincerest gratitude for their trust."

Despite the dire outlook on recovering the capsules, Chafer reassured families by highlighting the historic aspect of the journey. He noted that their loved ones were part of an extraordinary adventure, launched into space and now resting in the vast Pacific, resembling a traditional sea scattering.

An Unusual Cargo

In addition to the human ashes, the Nyx capsule was also carrying cannabis seeds for a citizen science project that aims to explore the feasibility of cultivating cannabis on Mars.

In a related context, Celestis had previously conducted flights carrying the remains of several notable figures connected to the "Star Trek" franchise, including series creator Gene Roddenberry, who embarked on a final cosmic voyage.