SpaceX Launches Memorial Capsules into Orbit on Transporter-14 Mission from Vandenberg
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — A Falcon 9 rocket soared into the skies over California’s Central Coast Monday afternoon as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission — a major rideshare launch that delivered 70 diverse payloads into low Earth orbit, including research satellites, orbital transfer vehicles, and a unique memorial spaceflight capsule.
According to SpaceX, Transporter-14 is part of its dedicated smallsat rideshare program, offering cost-effective access to space for a wide range of customers. Monday’s launch included CubeSats, microsats, reentry capsules, orbital transfer vehicles, and scientific experiments from around the globe.
Among the 70 payloads was a special Celestis Memorial Spaceflight known as the Perseverance Flight, which carried more than 150 capsules containing cremated remains and DNA samples of loved ones, pets, and public figures from across the world.
One of those honored on this flight was the late Wesley Melvin Dreyer, a longtime aerospace engineer from San Diego. Over his 42-year career, Dreyer played a key role in advancing U.S. aviation and defense technology — including serving on the investigation team for the Challenger disaster, and contributing to major programs such as the Tomahawk missile and the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.
His daughter Kelly shared that her father became an aerospace engineer “because he couldn’t be an astronaut.”
The Perseverance Flight is designed to orbit Earth two to three times at speeds reaching 17,000 miles per hour before reentering the atmosphere. The memorial capsules are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where they will be recovered and returned to families as keepsakes .
The Celestis payload flew aboard Nyx, a reusable orbital capsule developed by European startup The Exploration Company. The capsule’s prototype version, called “Mission Possible,” served as the delivery vehicle for the memorial capsules during Monday’s launch.
As its name suggests, Transporter-14 is the 14th mission in SpaceX's rideshare series. The program began with Transporter-1 in January 2021, which set a record for the most satellites launched on a single rocket, sending 143 payloads into orbit on one flight.
Following stage separation, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster completed its 26th flight, landing successfully on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
The booster has previously flown on missions including NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, and 15 Starlink.
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