Celestis offers the loved ones of the space-smitten deceases the opportunity to have (a portion) of their cremains put into orbit.

Typical orbit: 765 km circular orbit, 103.1 deg inclination. Associated Launch Vehicle: Taurus.

• 1998 February 10 - Celestis-02 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Taurus. Perigee: 780 km (480 mi). Apogee: 876 km (544 mi). Inclination: 108.00 deg. Period: 101.50 min.

• 1999 December 21 - Celestis-03 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Taurus. Perigee: 683 km (424 mi). Apogee: 723 km (449 mi). Inclination: 98.30 deg.

  Burial satellite containing cremated human remains.

• 2001 September 21 - Celestis-4 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Taurus. FAILURE: A problem a few seconds after first stage separation caused the rocket to go off course; it recovered and the remainder of the stages fired, but final cutoff velocity was too low to reach a sustainable orbit. Mass: 368 kg (811 lb).

  Celestis-4 consisted of two Celestis burial canisters containing cremated human remains. After the launch vehicle failure Celestis guaranteed a relaunch of back-up remains.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• NASA/GSFC Orbital Information Group Website, . Accessed at: http://oig1.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

• Space-Launcher.com, Orbital Report News Agency. Accessed at: http://www.orbireport.com/Log.html.