Ashes of 160 people and cannabis samples lost in the ocean: Nyx capsule sank after crashing on return to Earth

A test space mission, during which a private capsule was supposed to safely return to Earth from orbit, ended in an accident. The Nyx capsule, developed by a European startup, failed to make a soft landing due to a parachute system failure and sank in the Pacific Ocean. On board were about 300 kilograms of cargo, including the ashes and DNA of 166 people, as well as biomaterials as part of an agricultural experiment on plant cultivation in microgravity.

The capsule was launched on June 23 on a booster rocket as part of a mission called Mission Possible. This was the second orbital test flight of the Nyx spacecraft, designed for reusable use and payload return from low-Earth orbit. The mission's goal was to test critical elements of the system — thermal protection, aerodynamic stabilization, communications, and, in the final stage, parachute-assisted landing procedures.

Separation from the launch vehicle was successful. Nyx entered its planned orbit, completed a short-term mission, and began its return. Communication with the capsule was restored after re-entry, which confirmed the successful operation of the heat shield. However, soon the telemetry was interrupted, and the capsule itself, according to preliminary data, entered the water in an uncontrolled mode — the flood signal was not recorded. Later it turned out that the main parachute system did not open.

On board were the remains of 166 people transferred for orbital burial as part of a private service. According to the procedure, the ashes and DNA were sealed in airtight capsules installed inside the lander. It was planned that after flying around the Earth, the capsule would make a soft landing, and customers would have the opportunity to save or bury the returned materials. After the accident, representatives of the company that provided the memorial service officially apologized to the families, noting that a technical failure makes it impossible to return the remains. At the same time, they emphasized the symbolic significance of the mission — the deceased became part of a unique space journey, completing it in the ocean, similar to a sea burial.

The cargo also contained seeds and vegetative samples of cannabis. The experiment was developed by a biotechnological project that aimed to study the growth and metabolism of plants in microgravity. The data obtained could form the basis for future agricultural solutions for deep space missions, including possible farming on Mars. However, the research materials have been lost.

Despite the loss, the developer of the device announced a partial success of the mission. The capsule demonstrated a controlled exit from orbit and accurate navigation during re-entry, which is considered as a confirmation of the reliability of design solutions. The next stage is the preparation of the mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2028. The implementation of this project depends on the results of technical expertise and further funding from relevant agencies.