On June 23, 2025, a German startup, The Exploration Company (TEC), launched the Nyx capsule as part of the "Mission Possible" program, carrying the ashes of 166 people, with support from Texas-based Celestis, a space burial company.

The capsule completed two successful orbits around Earth before crashing into the Pacific Ocean due to a re-entry anomaly.

Celestis confirmed the ashes are unrecoverable, with CEO Charles M. Chafer emphasizing that while the technical milestones were notable, they cannot replace the personal significance for the families involved.

The incident has left the contents dispersed at sea, prompting ongoing investigations into the failure.

The establishment views this as a setback for the growing space burial industry, with TEC labeling it a "partial success" despite the crash, focusing on lessons for future missions.

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