While Mars looms as the next destination for humanity's expansion into our solar system, there are significant hurdles, technological issues, financial concerns, and astrophysical logistics to overcome before placing boots on the Red Planet ever becomes a reality.

But that hasn't stopped Texas-based Celestis, Inc. from launching a new reservation list for customers to stake out coveted spots on the memorial spaceflight company's first planned journey to Mars. Celestis aims to send canisters containing cremated ashes and DNA samples of the deceased into orbit around the Red Planet.

However, it might be an endeavor several years in the making.

Since 1997, the Houston-headquartered firm has carried precious cargo of the remains of loved ones, pets, and luminaries beyond Earth on a number o

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