Jul 06, Kathmandu - A capsule carrying the remains of 166 people has lost contact with the space station moments before it was scheduled to land in the Pacific Ocean, marking a disappointing turn for families hoping to reunite with their loved ones' ashes via space travel.

The capsule, named 'Nyx,' was launched into space by the American company Celestis, which specializes in delivering human remains to space. It was sent aboard a capsule developed by the German firm The Exploration Company. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States on June 23, using a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.

According to the manufacturer, the capsule successfully completed all stages of launch, orbit, and re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. However, during re-entry, communications were disrupted due to atmospheric friction, and the capsule was temporarily reconnected. Unfortunately, just before its scheduled landing on June 24, contact was lost, and the capsule disappeared.

The Exploration Company described the mission as a “partial success,” noting that most technical tests were successful but the primary objective—safe return to Earth—was not achieved.

In addition to the human remains, the capsule also contained marijuana plants and seeds as part of a scientific experiment called ‘Martian Grow’, aimed at studying plant growth and adaptability in zero gravity environments.

Following the incident, Celestis expressed its deepest condolences to the affected families and assured them of free re-entry on future flights.