SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 mission launched May 22nd also a memorial to "Mr. Scott" and others

Celestis New Frontier Flight

The SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 mission also carried a portion of the remains of James Doohan (who played "Scotty" on the popular Star Trek series), into a ceremonial orbit -- reentering the atmosphere with the SpaceX sustainer rocket on June 26th, after orbiting the earth 576 times.  The company behind this mission is Celestis.  This quote from their homepage describes their services:

"Leaving Earth to touch the cosmos is an experience few have ever known, but many have often dreamed of. Celestis makes it possible to honor the dream and memory of your departed loved one by launching a symbolic portion of cremated remains into Earth orbit, onto the lunar surface or into deep space. Missions into space that return the cremated remains to Earth are also available."

Also among the 320 participants of the "New Frontier Flight" was Mercury Seven NASA astronaut L. Gordon Cooper.

This was SpaceX's second Celestis flight.  The 3rd Falcon 1 launch, on August 2nd, 2008, was the vehicle for "The Explorer's Flight" (Celestis' 7th flight).  Unfortunately, a launch problem prevented a successful mission.  A symbolic portion of the remains of James Doohan and L. Gordan Cooper were also aboard this flight, and one of the mission graphics reflects this by including a tiny Star Trek patch and Mercury 9 mission patch in it (see below).

SpaceX Falcon 1, Flight 3