Mareta West
Encyclopedia
Mareta N. West was an American astrogeologist who in the 1960s chose the site of the first manned lunar landing
. She received her bachelor's degree
in geology
from the University of Oklahoma
. Her cremated remains were launched into space aboard a SpaceLoft-XL rocket on April 28, 2007. This was a sub-orbital launch, and the cremains were recovered afterwards. They were be launched again on August 2, 2008, aboard a Falcon 1
rocket. The intended destination of this flight was low Earth orbit
, however the rocket failed two minutes after launch.
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
. She received her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Her cremated remains were launched into space aboard a SpaceLoft-XL rocket on April 28, 2007. This was a sub-orbital launch, and the cremains were recovered afterwards. They were be launched again on August 2, 2008, aboard a Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
rocket. The intended destination of this flight was low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
, however the rocket failed two minutes after launch.