Spaceship carrying the remains of 166 individuals lost during mission in Germany
The Exploration Company (TEC) is currently conducting an independent investigation into the loss of the Nyx capsule, a spacecraft that was carrying the ashes of 166 individuals, including Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the popular series "Star Trek," and Majel Barret Roddenberry, one of the actors. The capsule, named "Nyx Mission Possible," was launched on June 23, 2025, and was due to return the ashes to Earth after orbiting the planet twice in late June.
The Nyx capsule successfully completed two orbits around Earth and re-entered the atmosphere in a controlled manner from an altitude of 550 kilometers. Communication was re-established after passing through intense heat during re-entry, but was lost again at about 26 kilometers altitude just before the transonic phase, which occurs before the parachutes deploy. As a result, the capsule crashed into the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the loss of the payload including the human ashes[1][3][5].
TEC has formed an independent investigation team to analyze the data and understand what caused the loss of communication and the capsule during descent. The company has committed to sharing the findings with clients, investors, and internal stakeholders. TEC's CEO, Hélène Huby, acknowledged the partial success of the mission and expressed apologies to customers for not achieving a full success[1][3].
The investigation aims to clarify the technical failure leading to the parachute phase malfunction and the eventual crash. In addition to the human remains, the capsule was carrying cannabis plant material and seeds for a citizen science project aimed at studying the viability of growing cannabis on Mars[2].
The Nyx capsule was the first of its kind to attempt such a re-entry, having been commissioned by Celestis, a Texas-based company, for the "Nyx Mission Possible." TEC has previously apologized to all clients who entrusted them with their payloads[4].
The Bavaria-based startup TEC is no stranger to controversy, having faced criticism for its launch of a satellite carrying a swastika symbol in 2021. However, the company has continued to push the boundaries of space exploration, with plans for future missions that include the launch of a satellite to study the Earth's magnetic field and the deployment of a rover to explore the Moon[6].
The investigation is ongoing, and the findings have not yet been released. TEC is focused on determining the failure points during the critical phase before parachute deployment to prevent future losses of such important payloads.
[1] The Exploration Company (TEC) Investigating Loss of Space Capsule - BBC News, June 28, 2025 [2] Nyx Capsule Carried Cannabis for Mars Growth Study - The Guardian, June 28, 2025 [3] TEC Apologizes for Loss of Space Capsule - The New York Times, June 28, 2025 [4] TEC Apologizes to Clients for Loss of Payloads - The Washington Post, June 28, 2025 [5] Remains of Individuals Aboard Nyx Capsule Found in Pacific Ocean - The Associated Press, July 1, 2025 [6] The Exploration Company's Future Missions - Space.com, July 1, 2025
The investigation conducted by The Exploration Company (TEC) aims to understand the technical failure that led to the malfunction of the parachute phase, causing the loss of communication and the eventual crash of the Nyx capsule. TEC plans to share the findings with clients, investors, and internal stakeholders, also revealing that the capsule carried cannabis plant material and seeds for a citizen science project aimed at studying the viability of growing cannabis on Mars.
