Space & Astronomy

Arthur C Clarke's DNA to venture in to space

By T.K. Randall
June 28, 2013 ·  3 comments

Image Credit: CC 3.0 Mamyjomarash The spacecraft is to be called Sunjammer after a similar concept in one of Clarke's books. Organized by the company Celestis which deals in memorial spaceflights, the mission will be propelled by a large solar sail and is set to launch in 2014. The aim of the trip is to give families the opportunity to place the remains of their loved ones on board for a trip across the final frontier.

"I was/am a lifelong fan and attribute much of my interest in space to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey," said Charles Chafer, chief executive of Space Services Holdings. "In 2000, when we were first planning a solar sail mission to deep space we approached him about donating a hair sample containing his DNA for launch. A partner at the time journeyed to Sri Lanka to his home where he obtained the sample."[!gad]The spacecraft is to be called Sunjammer after a similar concept in one of Clarke's books. Organized by the company Celestis which deals in memorial spaceflights, the mission will be propelled by a large solar sail and is set to launch in 2014. The aim of the trip is to give families the opportunity to place the remains of their loved ones on board for a trip across the final frontier.

"I was/am a lifelong fan and attribute much of my interest in space to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey," said Charles Chafer, chief executive of Space Services Holdings. "In 2000, when we were first planning a solar sail mission to deep space we approached him about donating a hair sample containing his DNA for launch. A partner at the time journeyed to Sri Lanka to his home where he obtained the sample."

Source: Guardian Unlimited | Comments (3)

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