This week, I had the incredible opportunity to share the mission of Space Beyond on live television for the very first time. I drove into Orlando early Monday morning to join Good Day Orlando on Fox 35—and it was an experience I’ll never forget.
When I arrived at the studio, I was welcomed by executive producer Jami Sims, who walked me through the morning’s schedule and helped me get settled. I spent a few quiet moments in the green room (no hair or makeup needed—bald guy perks), then made my way to the newsroom.
The anchors delivered the morning headlines from the desk, while nearby, newscasters deftly navigated live graphics and pointed to virtual elements on green screens. The precision and pace behind the scenes were impressive—everyone working in sync to keep the show flowing live.
Soon after, I was invited into Studio B to sit down with anchor Amy Kaufeldt. She was kind, professional, and a total pro at guiding a natural conversation. While I don’t usually seek the spotlight, it is easy for me to talk about things I am passionate about. Amy made it effortless to open up and share the story of Space Beyond with central Florida.
We talked about our mission to make space accessible to everyone—starting with our ashes-to-space memorials:
How did you come up with this idea?
The idea for this project has been long in the making, seeking a way to help open space for everyone. One day I watched a ceremony at sea where someone’s ashes were scattered into the ocean. It was beautiful and great closure for those gathered, but it also left me wondering—could there be another way? What if we could honor our loved ones by launching them into space, the ultimate frontier? As someone who’s spent years working in the space industry, and who’s always been inspired by the cosmos, I couldn’t let go of the thought. That’s when the vision for Space Beyond was born.
How do you keep costs down?
Other companies charge thousands of dollars for this service. We’re doing it for just $249, because we believe space should be accessible—not exclusive. We’ve stripped away the complexity. Our spacecraft is small and simple, our team is lean, and our systems are designed for scale. Most of the work so far has been powered by me, with help from my wife, family, and friends. By sending many “ashtronauts” on each launch, we share the costs—like a space carpool.
How does it work?
We also make the process incredibly simple. Once we’re ready to accept orders, you’ll be able to purchase on our website. We’ll send you a collection kit with everything you need: a vial, funnel, and prepaid return envelope. You’ll send the filled vial back to us, we’ll integrate it onto the spacecraft, and handle all the technical work from there. When it launches, you’ll be able to track its location in orbit—knowing exactly where your loved one is, whenever you want.
Since the segment aired, the response has been phenomenal. We’ve welcomed a wave of new preregistrations and heard from many who are excited to honor their loved ones in this meaningful way. But we’re just getting started—we still need hundreds more to join the mission before we can book our first launch.
Watch the Interview:
🎥 Watch the segment here:
FOX 35 Video Feature – Affordable Space Burials
If this resonates with you—or with someone you know—please visit ashestospace.com and click “Let’s Go” to preregister. It’s free, easy, and helps move us one step closer to orbit.
If you’d like to help, the best thing you can do is engage with our social media posts (links below) and share with your friends and family. Like, comment, share—help us spread the word. With your support, we can keep this effort grassroots, affordable, and truly accessible to all.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
—Ryan
Founder, Space Beyond
Additional sources sharing the news:
Fox 35 Orlando: https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1620898
Fox 51 Gainesville: https://www.wogx.com/video/1620898
Newsbreak: https://www.newsbreak.com/fox-35-orlando-287734256/3952511876224-space-beyond-wants-to-launch-human-remains-for-250
Yahoo News: https://www.yahoo.com/news/company-works-sending-ashes-space-212819137.html
Spot on Florida: https://spotonflorida.com/central-florida/5699981/space-beyond-wants-to-launch-human-remains.html
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRgmIymBPZY
The Jim Cramer Show: (coverage starts at 02:09:20 and continues until 02:15:20) https://www.iheart.com/podcast/61-the-jim-colbert-show-28811402/episode/we-have-a-jorts-advisor-272109549/
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