From: PRESS RELEASE

TIMOTHY LEARY’s FINAL TRIP

On Sunday, Feb. 9th, at 4AM, Celestis, Inc. (Houston, Texas), the company will launch into space the cremated remains of Dr. Timothy Leary and other space pioneers, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, space station designer Dr. Gerard O'Neill, Space University's Todd Hauley, and space engineer Dr. Kraft Eriche) aboard an Orbital Science Corporation Pegasus rocket.
The flight will be controlled from an air base near Madrid, Spain -- Pegasus is launched from an L-1011 aircraft -- with the actual launch occurring over an Atlantic Ocean site near the Canary Islands.


The late Dr. Timothy Leary gave Carol Rosin, his longtime friend who spent most of the nights with Dr. Leary during the last six months of his dying process, the following quote. This was interview was taped the day before he decided to de-animate:
Timothy: My life work has been to empower individuals to free herself and himself to grow and be more free. Today, we move into the next place. Use light to enjoy space for individuals.

Carol: What do you say to the young people?
Timothy: Do it with your friends.
Carol: Do what?
Timothy: Ride the light into space.
Carol: You have said we are the light-bearers
Timothy: I have sought the light to use light to be in space.
Light is the language of the sun and the stars where we will all meet again.

In another conversation just hours before he died, Carol asked Timothy, "Who are we?"
Timothy answered, "We are the light we are light-bearers."
"What is our purpose?"
"Our purpose is to shine the light on others."


On Sunday, Feb. 9th, at 4AM, Celestis, Inc. (Houston, Texas), the company will launch into space the cremated remains of Dr. Timothy Leary and other space pioneers, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, space station designer Dr. Gerard O'Neill, Space University's Todd Hauley, and space engineer Dr. Kraft Eriche) aboard an Orbital Science Corporation Pegasus rocket. The flight will be controlled from an air base near Madrid, Spain -- Pegasus is launched from an L-1011 aircraft -- with the actual launch occurring over an Atlantic Ocean site near the Canary Islands.

Timothy is strapped to the Pegasus rocket inside the L-10ll, which is scheduled to take off at 4AM on February 9th for Spain, where a satellite is loaded, and the final leg begins. The Pegasus takes off again from Spain, and launches the satellite. The Pegasus will circle the globe and eventually re-enter and vaporize.

That light is what excited Timothy most. He jumped up and down in his wheelchair when he saw the Celestis video and the re-entry stage burn-up light..."Finally, I'll be the light. Everyone will know I am the light...we are light. And I'll go into space with other space pioneers."
The Orbital Sciences Corporation L-1011 aircraft will take off from Gando Air Base, Canary Islands, Spain, carrying the Pegasus launch vehicle with the Celestis payload. After carrying the Pegasus XL booster to an altitude of approximately 38,000 feet, the L-1011 will release the winged rocket for a five-second horizontal glide before the main engine ignites, powering the three-stage solid fuel vehicle into low-Earth orbit.
The prime mission for the Pegasus XL booster is Spain's Minisat-1 -- a scientific research satellite.
"Celestis missions are designed to permit us to offer the service without contributing to orbital debris," said Chan Tysor, president of Celestis. "Eventually, the satellite will re-enter the atmosphere... blazing like a shooting star in final tribute to dear departed ones."


Additional information is available from: Charles M. Chafer, Celestis, Inc. (713) 522-7282, http://www.celestis.com/
Carol Rosin
Contact: Dr. Carol Rosin, Regent, United Societies in Space; Coordinator, World Space Commission
voice mail: 213-225-1999 email: rosin@west.net 424 Manzanita Avenue, Ventura, CA. 93001