According to a recent announcement by Celestis, DNA samples from Presidents George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy will be launched into deep space on December 24, as part of a memorial spaceflight. This project, carried out in collaboration with the United Space Alliance (ULA), will also include DNA samples from “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, and iconic actors from the show Nichelle Nichols and DeForest Kelley. The flight, named “Enterprise” after the famous spaceship in the series, will also carry the remains of 150 individuals who have been placed on the flight by their loved ones.
Apart from being a memorial for those who have passed away, this project seeks to establish a solar orbit 150 to 300 million miles away, becoming what Celestis calls “the world’s first true outpost of humanity in the cosmos.” The company argues that by including the DNA of these presidents and “Star Trek” figures, future generations of space settlers will be able to gain insight into American leaders and culture, and how the United States came to be and thrive.
While this may sound like a fascinating thought, the reality is that this project is nothing more than a strange and unnecessary use of funds. Instead of investing in meaningful and beneficial projects, such as finding solutions to real-world problems or further exploring our universe, NASA is wasting resources on a mission that serves no practical purpose. As a result, this project has sparked criticism and raised questions about the priorities of our space agency.
By carrying out this memorial spaceflight, NASA and Celestis are essentially glorifying these figures and their contributions, as if sending their DNA into deep space will make them more exceptional. Don’t get me wrong, they were great men but what’s the point of this?
This is a frivolous and pointless pursuit that serves no significant scientific or educational purpose. As astronomer Seth Shostak stated, “This seems to me to be the worst possible justification for the project you could imagine. It’s kind of a tribute to humanity, but to segregate it to a couple of individuals who happen to be American presidents, I think that’s really almost insulting.”
Moreover, this project raises concerns about the equitable use of public funds. With budget constraints and limited resources, NASA’s focus should be on projects that will advance our understanding of the universe and benefit our society, rather than indulging in fancy and extravagant endeavors. As some have pointed out, the estimated cost of this memorial spaceflight could instead fund the dreams of young aspiring space explorers, or even help fund future Mars missions.
❗️The launch time for the upcoming Enterprise and Tranquility Flights has been announced! United Launch Alliance @ulalaunch has scheduled launch for 1:49am on December 24th.
????*Note: this occurs during the night between the 23rd and 24th. NOT the night before Christmas. pic.twitter.com/8s3AAme4z9
— Celestis, Inc. ???? Memorial Spaceflights (@celestisflights) December 2, 2023
The idea of sending DNA samples of Washington, Eisenhower, and Kennedy, along with “Star Trek” figures, into deep space may sound intriguing and symbolic. However, the reality is that this project is a waste of resources and diverts attention and precious funds from more important and worthy missions.
As citizens and taxpayers, we should hold NASA accountable for its spending and pressure it to focus on significant and meaningful projects. After all, as astronomer Rebecca Boyle puts it, “Space exploration’s more dramatic advances are built on tirelessly, often tedious, research.”
“……..future generations of space settlers will be able to gain insight into American leaders and culture, and how the United States came to be and thrive.”
They should collect the DNA from the Clinton’s, obamie and Joey the liar so future generations of space travelers can gain insight into how the United States fell into decline.
DNA sent into Deep Space wow