U.S. resident aims to send his DNA into space, hoping for recognition by potential extraterrestrial civilizations
In his quest to reach the stars, Ohm has teamed up with Celestis, a company specializing in sending earthly remains and ashes on space voyages.
Ohm’s latest venture involves sending his DNA to the moon, a symbolic gesture driven by his hope that future civilizations might discover it.
Kenneth Ohm, an 86-year-old physics professor, is fueled by his lifelong passion for space. Despite facing rejection from NASA due to his height, his fascination with the cosmos persisted. Over the years, he wrote numerous books about the moon and Midwestern life while dedicating five decades to teaching.
Placing his genetic material near the moon’s southern pole, he envisions a moment when someone looks at that spot and reflects, “Old Ken has his DNA up there.”
The primary motivation behind this lunar endeavor, as Ohm reveals to the New York Times, is the potential for his genetic blueprints to be found and utilized “for something extremely cool” in the distant future. He envisions a scenario where, thousands of years from now, remnants of our civilization or another stumble upon his DNA and unlock its mysteries.
Contemplating the possibilities, Ohm imagines scenarios ranging from an interstellar zoo featuring a caged version of himself to a more daunting prospect – thousands of reconstituted Ken Ohms dispersing throughout the universe.
In his quest to reach the stars, Ohm has teamed up with Celestis, a company specializing in sending earthly remains and ashes on space voyages. Celestis, renowned as a global leader in memorial spaceflights, has conducted 17 missions since 1997, providing families worldwide with a unique way to commemorate their departed loved ones.
Celestis offers its services at a starting price of $2,495. The company’s website describes it as a pioneer and iconic global leader, emphasizing its role in helping families globally memorialize their loved ones through spaceflights.
Kenneth Ohm’s decision to send his DNA to the moon encapsulates a unique blend of personal passion and a visionary outlook on the future. His lifelong dedication to space exploration, coupled with the symbolic gesture of leaving his genetic legacy on the lunar surface, reflects a deep connection to the cosmos and a desire to contribute to the unfolding narrative of humanity’s journey through time and space.
This initiative prompts contemplation about the longevity of human existence and the potential for our traces to endure in the vastness of the universe. Ohm’s hope that his genetic information might be discovered and used for something “extremely cool” injects an element of curiosity and optimism into the venture, transcending the boundaries of the present and reaching into the realms of the unknown future.
The collaboration with Celestis adds a pragmatic dimension to Ohm’s celestial aspirations. By aligning with a company specializing in memorial spaceflights, he leverages their expertise to ensure his DNA embarks on a journey that transcends earthly confines. The concept of memorial spaceflights, as facilitated by Celestis, not only offers a unique form of remembrance but also symbolizes humanity’s quest to explore and inhabit the cosmos.
As Ohm envisions the possibility of his DNA being discovered by future civilizations, the narrative takes on a science fiction quality. The idea of an interstellar zoo or swarms of reconstituted Ken Ohms populating the universe introduces an element of whimsy and speculation. It invites contemplation about the potential ways in which future beings might interpret and interact with the remnants of our existence.
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