What do you think about the recent practice of sending one's remains into outer space?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

This may sound like a weird question, but the other day I was reading about one of the Star Trek star's ashes being sent into outer space. I started thinking about how I would feel about that, and oddly, I don't think I'd like it. As much as I am a total nonconformist when it comes to death, burials and things of this nature (I really don't care what they do with my body once I'm gone...toss me in the dumpster if need be...), I really dislike the idea of my remains leaving mother earth. I was born on this rock, lived here, and would like continue with it on it's journey, becoming eventually part of the rock once again.

I guess that makes me more of an Earthling than a space traveler. What say you?

[realisticphish]

1. i dunno

I kind of like the idea of my remains exploring the universe, even if i can't

[Kali]

2. eh - I wouldn't want to pay for it - would rather "do" space while still alive

alas I am more than likely too old. (although amazing things can happen in a short amount of time and I have "pioneer" genes, baby!)

[Orsino]

3. Those ashes aren't going anywhere permanently.

If they're going into low Earth orbit, they'll be back in a few years/centuries. And most of Scotty's ashes are staying, anyway. It would be far too expensive to ship 'em all into orbit.

[undeterred]

4. How romantic to look up into the night sky and say

I see dead people.

[Cannikin]

5. Only small viles of ashes are sent up. And they only stay for a few years before re entering.

Aside from the small vile, Gene Roddenberry's remains, for example, are still in an urn in 'a safe but undisclosed location' according to his wife. The vile re entered and burned up several years ago.

I'm sure it will be the same with james 'scotty' doohan.

[mentalsolstice]

6. Meh!

It's okay for rich people, if that's what they want to do. I want to be cremated and simply spread to where the wind carries me. I don't want to take up anymore in death, I feel that I've taken up more than my share in life. Save for a kegger, a few bottles of good wine and some decent music, I don't want much of a send off.

[InternalDialogue]

7. I'm going to send my remains into MySpace.

They'll be spread throughout cyberspace, instead of outer space, through a series of absurdly slow-loading graphic backgrounds and spam-filled comment fields.

[supernova]

8. I think it's cool

Your ashes, should be wherever you want them to be.