Rocket Carrying Waterloo Man’s Ashes Crashes on Moon; First U.S. Attempt in 50 Years, Canada

The lunar lander carrying the ashes of a Waterloo man, Udo Petersen, as well as DNA from other notable figures, encountered a critical fuel leak just hours after its launch. The Astrobotic Peregrine lunar lander, onboard the ULA Vulcan rocket, was on its way to attempt the first U.S. moon landing in over 50 years. Unfortunately, the lander will not be able to complete its mission and make a soft landing on the moon. The journey carried the remains of entrepreneur Udo Petersen, who emigrated from Germany to Canada and went on to become a successful businessman. Alongside his ashes were the DNA or ashes of renowned individuals such as Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, and U.S. presidents George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. The idea of sending Petersen’s ashes into space came from his daughters, who wanted to honor his lifelong passion for astronomy and his curiosity about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The memorial spaceflight company Celestis, responsible for the deep space burial, confirmed that it is highly unlikely the Peregrine lunar lander will successfully complete its mission. Families with capsules on board are advised to contact the company to discuss the next steps. The news of the troubled lunar lander has disappointed many, putting a halt to the historic U.S. endeavor to return to the moon.