Family Decides Texas Man's Final Resting Place Will Be Space, Plans to Send His Ashes on a Satellite

The parents of a 27-year-old man who tragically died from a fentanyl overdose are honoring their late son's passion for space by sending his ashes into orbit on a satellite, fulfilling his dream of making space accessible to the average person.

Kindyn Jinkins, who had a deep passion for space and technology, passed away in 2022 after taking a pill unknowingly laced with fentanyl, Fox 26 Houston reported.

Kindyn had dreams of working for SpaceX to make space travel affordable for everyone, according to his parents, David and Melanie Jinkins. They wanted to find a meaningful way to commemorate their son's life and passions after his untimely death.

In a tribute to their son, the Jinkins family has arranged for Kindyn's ashes to be sent on the Serenity flight, a memorial space mission launched by Celestis Memorial SpaceFlights.

The flight, scheduled to launch in mid-2025 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, will carry Kindyn's ashes in a capsule attached to a satellite that will orbit Earth for up to five years before it is decommissioned.

As the satellite re-enters the atmosphere, Kindyn's remains will burn up, creating what will be a poignant "shooting star" in the sky.

This memorial flight is part of a growing trend where families honor the lives of loved ones through unique space memorial services, offering a new kind of closure for those who choose it.