Aura Flights ushers in the final frontier of memorialisation

With the practice of cremation dating back thousands of years, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the market for ash-based memorialisation had reached maturity many generations ago. In reality though, the sector seems to be going through something of a golden era right now, with new and innovative remembrance services popping up on a regular basis. From transforming ashes into a memorial diamond to incorporating them into a

bespoke wind chime – and seemingly everything in between – there’s never been more choice when it comes to commemorating a loved one.

Space scattering

Memorialisation has clearly come a long way in the last decade or so, but there’s one service in particular that’s taking remembrance to its final frontier – quite literally. Aura Flights is a UK-based space memorialisation company that scatters ashes from 100,000 feet above the surface of the Earth. Since 2017, this remarkable service has helped over 250 passengers embark on a truly breath taking final journey in the arms of the stratospheric

winds, and all at less than the cost of an average burial.

Who is it for?

Perhaps it goes without saying, but space scattering often resonates with individuals who have a passion for flight, the universe or science fiction. However, it can also make for a fitting tribute to those with an adventurous spirit or someone who has always found comfort in the concept of ‘infinity’. The idea of scattering ashes in space can also be appealing for those lacking an especially meaningful memorial site here on Earth, with the boundless

nature of space offering a unique sense of transcendence.

Beyond the clouds

The voyage begins by storing the passenger’s ashes in a scatter vessel designed to securely contain the precious payload throughout its final journey. It’s then attached to an enormous stratospheric balloon filled with lighter-than-air hydrogen gas, which provides it with the lift needed to travel through the atmosphere and into space. Once at 120,000 feet above the Earth’s surface, where the environment is gloriously serene, the vessel will open

to release the ashes into space in an elegant cascade – with dedicated cameras memorialising the moment for family and friends.

Traversing the globe

Over the next three to six months, the ashes will traverse the globe many times over in the arms of the stratospheric winds, gradually spreading out until their presence covers the entire world. Little by little, the ashes will then descend into the lower portions of the atmosphere, where each particle acts as a nucleation point for precipitation, allowing passengers to reach their final resting place as raindrops and snowflakes.

It doesn’t cost the Earth

It may surprise you to learn that these flights are also environmentally friendly, unlike competitor offerings that rely on rockets to transport their passengers’ ashes into space. Aura Flights exclusively employs biodegradable balloons filled with sustainably-generated

 hydrogen to minimise environmental impact and protect our precious home planet. No nasty rocket fuel emissions here!

The ultimate final journey

Aura Flights provides a unique and environmentally-conscious way for friends and family to honour the memory of a loved one, with the included memorial video making for a deeply moving tribute that can be watched and shared ad infinitum. Whether honouring someone with a passion for the stars or paying tribute to an adventurous spirit, scattering ashes in space combines the act of remembrance with the wonder of the universe for a truly

breath taking send-off.