Celestis Memorial Spaceflights: Funding Rounds, Investors & CEO

About Celestis Memorial Spaceflights

Celestis sells memorial spaceflights. It launches a symbolic portion of a person's cremated remains or DNA into near-space, Earth orbit, to the Moon or deeper into space. Each flight rides as a secondary payload on a commercial or scientific space mission. Families can attend the launch, which includes site tours and time with astronauts and space experts. After liftoff, an online tool lets them follow the spacecraft.

Celestis was established in 1994 and flew its first memorial spaceflight, the Founders Flight, on April 21, 1997. Its business address is in Spring, Texas. Charles M. Chafer, a co-founder, is chairman and chief executive officer. Andrea M. QasGuargis is chief operating officer. The launch schedule lists completed flights through the Endeavor Flight on October 1, 2026. The Infinite Flight is planned for early 2027 and the Serenity Flight for March 2027, both from Cape Canaveral. Celestis has also announced Mars300, which would send 300 symbolic portions of remains and DNA to the Martian frontier.

Funding Rounds (SEC Form D)

First sale	Filed with SEC	Amount sold	Investors	Avg. check	Terms	Filing
Sep 17, 2026	Oct 28, 2026	$175,000of $500K target	3	$58,333	EquityRule 506(b)	Form D ↗

First sale is the date the first investor in the offering committed to invest. Companies must file Form D within 15 days of that date, so filing dates run later.

Why Investors Backed Celestis Memorial Spaceflights

Celestis sells memorial spaceflights that carry a symbolic portion of cremated remains or DNA into space. The company began in 1994 and flew its first mission in 1997. Co-founder Charles M. Chafer still leads it as chairman and chief executive officer. Its flights ride on other missions, so launch dates can change.

What the product does

Celestis sells four services: Earth Rise, Earth Orbit, Luna and Voyager. The Serenity Flight, planned for March 2027, will orbit Earth. The Infinite Flight is meant to travel through deep space and leave the Earth-Moon system. The Destiny Flight aims for Earth's nearest neighbor. On the Lumina Flight, families get back a flight capsule as a keepsake. Before liftoff, families gather for a memorial service and share life stories. Celestis works with licensed funeral directors and keeps a trust fund that the Texas Department of Banking licenses and audits.

Progress so far

The Founders Flight launched from the Canary Islands on April 21, 1997. It carried 24 people, among them Gene Roddenberry and Timothy Leary, and reentered on May 20, 2002. The Enterprise and Tranquility flights launched on January 8, 2024, on the Voyager and Luna services. The Endeavor Flight launched on October 1, 2026. At NASA's request, Celestis also placed the remains of scientist Eugene Shoemaker at the Lunar South Pole. The National Space Society and the Space Frontier Foundation have each given it an award. Schedules can slip, because Celestis flies as a secondary payload and many launch factors are outside its control.

Who backs it

Charles M. Chafer co-founded Celestis in 1994. In the early 1980s he was vice president of government relations at Space Services, Inc. of America. That team launched Conestoga 1, the first privately funded rocket into space. Andrea M. QasGuargis, the chief operating officer, has nearly two decades in operations, consulting and creative direction. Colby Youngblood, an advisor and board member, served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. Its directors and advisors also include a former head of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, who directed over 50 shuttle launches, and retired NASA astronauts.

We wrote this summary from public statements by Celestis Memorial Spaceflights and its investors. It is not investment advice.