A space fan gave his late grandmother a cosmic send-off by scattering her ashes – at the edge of SPACE.
Chester Mojay-Sinclare, 22, placed Pat Sinclare’s remains into a mini urn and attached it to a meteorological balloon which he floated 100,000ft above East Anglia.
A mechanism then released the ashes into the stratosphere – where they instantly dissipated into the jet stream.
Now the enterprising youngster has taken his idea to market – offering the experience to likeminded individuals for £5,000.
Chester’s inspiration came from a project last year where he launched a potato dressed as Father Christmas into the stratosphere using the specialist balloon.
The spaceship, named Spudnik, reached 90,000ft before the balloon burst and the shuttle floated back down to earth on a parachute.
He said: ”Gran saw the paper cuttings from the time I sent an organic potato into space.
”A family member mentioned it off the cuff that you could send ashes into space and my gran said it would be a great idea.
”We decided to do it after she passed away in January and it was amazing to watch her swoop off into the clouds.
”It was a wonderful way to say goodbye. I miss her deeply, but to commemorate her life in this special way made all the difference.”
His grandmother Pat was born in Yorkshire and lived most of her life in Blackheath, London before her death in January aged 82.
The launch took place earlier this month from Winterton-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth.
Chester chose the spot for its picturesque landscape and safe landing trajectory for the balloon, which drifted out into the North Sea.
The ashes dissipated into the atmosphere while the biodegradable urn floated back down to earth and dissolved at sea.
Enterprising Chester says the mechanism which releases the ashes is a ”trade secret”.
He has now launched a business – www.stardustashes.com – offering the service for human and pet ashes.
The philosophy graduate, who lives in London, added: ”I’ve experienced this powerful and symbolic ceremony personally.
”These days bereavement is a taboo subject, but it is important to me that others can have this extraordinary experience too.
”I’ve only just started the company but I’ve already had a lot of interest from people who are interested in it.”
