WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eric Biernacki says his mother Christine Biernacki, was a "nerd," who "loved space and science fiction." Among her favorite shows was "Star Trek." 


What You Need To Know

  • Eric Biernacki's mother Christine Biernacki passed away in 2012, and had wanted her ashes to be sent to space

  • In January this year, her ashes were finally launched to space on a Vulcan rocket

  • After more than a decade, he said he believes his mom would say "It's about time!" 

“She grew up in the 60s, and 'Star Trek' was a very progressive show for the time, which was very interesting to her. But, a lot of it was obviously the characters and just the subject matter of the show,” Biernacki said. 

Christine was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011. As she was nearing the end of her life, she said she wanted her remains to go where the fictional cast had ventured.  

“She looks at me and she says, 'I want to, you know, if I don’t make it, I want my ashes to be sent to space.' And she saw my face, which was, ‘Are you serious? Like, is this real?’ And, she grabbed my hand, and she said, ‘Son, this is something that I really want done'.”

Companies like Celestis, Beyond Burials, and Aura Flights provide the service. Celestis has an “Earth Rise” option to launch cremated remains or DNA to space and back for around $3,000, or a “Voyager” option sending them on a “permanent celestial journey” beyond the moon for around $13,000. 

Aura Flights, based out of the United Kingdom, uses a balloon to send ashes into space, and releases them 100,000 feet above the Earth.

But, Biernacki says it took about a decade after his mom’s death before he and his family actually booked a service. 

“I was online during my lunch break and I read an article about William Shatner going to space for real, for the first time ever. And, he was explaining what it felt like and how it was different than what he had anticipated, things of that nature. And, I hear a voice in my head as I’m reading this article, ‘You promised',” he said. 

He Googled memorial space flights and found Celestis, opting for the “Enterprise Flight.” 

On Jan. 8, from a nearby causeway in Central Florida, Biernacki and his family watched as a Vulcan rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Biernacki said he believes his mom would have this to say this about her wish finally being fulfilled: "It's about time!"

“For sure. Just because it took 10 years," Biernacki said. "But now she’s proud of us, and looking down on us,” he said.