Four U.S. presidents’ DNA to be blasted into space

By Dean Murray via SWNS

Four U.S. presidents' DNA is set to be blasted into space.

The DNA of George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Regan will be included on a spacecraft for launch later this year.

Houston memorial spaceflight company Celestis, Inc. says what they believe is authenticated DNA will be carried by the historic Enterprise Flight, which they dub "humanity’s first deep space time capsule."

Hair samples of the presidents will be included on a spacecraft containing DNA and cremated remains of more than 200 individuals – including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, as well as original cast members Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and DeForest Kelley

Apollo astronaut Philip Chapman and special effects master Douglas Trumbull are also among others on the flight.

Star Trek capsules. (Celestis Inc via SWNS)

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The presidential hair samples, which were originally from the Louis Mushro collection, along with the associated Certificates of Authenticity, were gifted to Celestis by an anonymous donor for the purpose of being included in a deep space mission.

Celestis said Louis Mushro was a well-known celebrity hair collector and appraiser who built a global reputation as an expert in this field before his passing in 2014.

The hair samples have been in a climate-controlled facility for several years in preparation for this mission.

Charles M. Chafer, Co-Founder & CEO of Celestis, Inc., said: "Our Enterprise Flight is a historic mission by any standard.

"The overarching goal of Celestis is to assist human expansion throughout the solar system. By adding the DNA of these American icons to Enterprise, we establish a precursor for future human missions, and add to the historical record of human exploration of deep space."

Later this year, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket - on its maiden voyage - will lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, put a lunar lander on course for its rendezvous with the Moon, and continue into a heliocentric (solar) orbit around the sun.

Once the Centaur V stage has achieved this orbit, the Enterprise Flight will be renamed Enterprise Station - humankind’s furthest outpost - where it will journey endlessly, "perhaps awaiting discovery by a distant in time civilization," said Celestis.