--- title: "Parents Crowdfund to Send 11-Year-Old Son’s Ashes to the Moon" description: "In light of a Florida family's space-loving young son's unexpected death, they're trying to raise the funds to rest his ashes on the Moon." date: "2022-07-21" modified: "2022-07-21" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/parents-crowdfund-ashes-moon" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Future Society" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "celestis" - "crowdfunding" - "space burial" - "the digest" --- # Parents Crowdfund to Send 11-Year-Old Son’s Ashes to the Moon ![In light of a Florida family's space-loving young son's unexpected death, they're trying to raise the funds to rest his ashes on the Moon.]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Matthew's Moon A Florida family has successfully raised enough funds to carry out a beautiful — though heartbreaking — mission: in light of their space-loving young son's unexpected death, they're trying to raise the funds to rest his ashes on the Moon. Matthew Gallagher, who was only 11 when he recently passed away, was described by his parents [to Houston's *KHOU11 News*]() as a true space enthusiast. He'd wanted to be a pilot and astronaut since the age of 5, and loved to learn about planets, space, and constellations. "He had season passes with my dad every summer to Kennedy Space Center," his mother, Cori, told *KHOU11*. "He had a full-blown astronaut suit and wore it constantly." Matthew's dream was to one day trek through the cosmos, but those hopes were cut short by his tragic and sudden death. But now, by securing their son's ashes a seat on "memorial spaceflight" company [Celestis' upcoming Destiny Flight]() through a [now-fully funded GoFundMe](), Matthew might be able to make it to Earth's natural satellite after all. ## Celestis Celestis' [website describes]() their memorial spaceflight services as a special way to honor the lives of adventurous souls, while also providing those who are grieving with the comfort that their lost loved one is resting among the stars. "It'll kind of almost give us a little bit of that healing that we need to move forward with our lives, without him, but in memory of him," Cori continued. "Just knowing that no matter what, we can just look at the Moon every night and I know that he's up there." As of now, the Destiny Flight — which will be the third mission of its kind — is slated to [launch in late 2023](). Until then, we wish the Gallagher family nothing but the best, and we too hope that Matthew finds his place in the cosmos. **READ MORE**: [*Marine father, family create GoFundMe to send space-loving son's cremated remains to the moon*]() \[*KHOU11 News*\] **More on Celestis:** [*Upcoming Mission Will Fly Human Remains to the Moon*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()