Space burials 'good for US economy'

Americans who want to save money on taxes may want to consider rocketing their ashes into space, according to legislation being proposed in Virginia.

space_china_rocket_Shenzhou_b_111103_epa_193868955


The bill, up for debate next year, would offer state residents a tax deduction of up to $US8000 for deciding to send their remains into space, US media has reported.

State officials say it would be good for the economy.

"I know there's a giggle factor, but it's time to get over that," J. Jack Kennedy, a board member of the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority, told WTVR news.

"This is about business and job opportunities."

The goal is to boost visitors to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island.

Mourners would eat at local restaurants, stay at hotels and visit attractions, said Donna Bozza, director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission, according to WTVR's website.

"If you're spending that money to go to space, you're going to want your peeps to cheer you on," she said.

The space funeral industry is dominated by a Houston, Texas-based company called Celestis, which says it has launched 10 "memorial spaceflights".

Costs range from $US1000 to have one's remains launched into space and return to Earth, and $US10000 to have one's ashes sent to the Moon.

On offer beginning in 2014 is the "Voyager Service (which) launches your loved one on a voyage through deepest space, leaving the Earth-Moon system on a permanent celestial journey," the company website says.

The cost for a single-gram sample of one person's ashes would start at $12,500.

Famous individuals who have had their remains launched into space include writer and LSD advocate Timothy Leary, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, James Doohan - also known as "Scotty" from Star Trek - and Mercury 7 astronaut Gordon Cooper.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world