About Us

The Space Services team brings a rich heritage of leadership in pioneering commercial activities in innovative space missions.

In April 2004 the former employees of Space Services Inc. of America and the founders of Celestis, Inc. formed a new company – Space Services Incorporated. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Space Services is pleased to continue the important tradition of pioneering the space frontier.
Conestoga I David Hannah Jr, adn Pres George Bush
 

Space Services Memorial Spaceflights launch a symbolic portion of your loved one's cremated remains on a space mission that orbits the Earth: A ‘space funeral.’ Memorial Spaceflights are a fitting tribute for explorers, pioneers, entrepreneurs, aerospace professionals, and all who have an interest in space exploration, science fiction, or astronomy, or who simply feel at home in the cosmos. History: Space Services Inc. of America
Click on images above for a comprehensive visual history of SSI.

In 1982, Space Services Inc. of America (SSI) – under the direction of Mercury 7 astronaut Donald K. “Deke” Slayton – made history as the first private enterprise to launch a rocket into outer space: Conestoga. SSI, under the direction of founder David Hannah, Jr., established the basis for today’s commercial space industry.

SSI was the first company to:

  • Sign an agreement with NASA for the use of a national launch range – Wallops Island, VA;
  • Receive a contract from NASA for the provision of commercial launch services – Consort 1/Starfire;
  • Develop a commercial land remote sensing venture – Space America; and,
  • File an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a low earth orbit communications satellite constellation – Globesat Express.

In 2001, David Hannah, Jr. was recognized by the Space Business Archives for his contributions to the development of space commerce.
 

Click on images above for a comprehensive collection of Memorial Spaceflight images.

Space Services Memorial Spaceflights launch a symbolic portion of your loved one's cremated remains on a space mission that orbits the Earth: A ‘space funeral.’ Memorial Spaceflights are a fitting tribute for explorers, pioneers, entrepreneurs, aerospace professionals, and all who have an interest in space exploration, science fiction, or astronomy, or who simply feel at home in the cosmos. Celestis

Another significant “first” for SSI was its receipt of the first ever “mission approval” from the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (then housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation, today within the Federal Aviation Administration).

The Celestis Group of Melbourne, Florida was licensed in 1984 by OCST to fly a unique payload aboard SSI’s Conestoga vehicle – cremated human remains. While ultimately unable to conduct the launch, the Celestis Group proved that people all over the world sought memorial spaceflights for themselves and their loved ones.

In 1994, former SSI employees Charles M. Chafer and R. Chan Tysor founded a new company, Celestis, Inc., and announced an agreement with Orbital Sciences Corporation to launch cremated human remains as secondary payloads aboard Orbital’s Pegasus ™ and Taurus ™ launch vehicles.

Celestis Inc.’s Founders Flight (April, 1997) inaugurated the era of memorial spaceflights and included Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, 1960s icon Dr. Timothy Leary, and Princeton University physicist Dr. Gerard K. O’Neill among the 24 pioneers aboard.

Ultimately, Celestis accomplish five space missions, including – at NASA’s request – the launch of Dr. Eugene Shoemaker on a memorial flight to the moon. The Celestis flights honored the lives of people from US, Japan, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, China, and Germany.

Space Services Incl commenced Memorial Spaceflight services with the Legacy Flight.

 
 

For assistance please call us toll-free: 1-866-7 ROCKET (1-866-776-2538) Or: 1-281-971-4019;

 
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