Space Funeral Procedures: When an Astronaut Dies in Orbit

Space travel is an incredible feat of human endeavor, but the conditions present in microgravity or near-zero-gravity environments like the International Space Station (ISS) pose unique challenges, including the possibility of an astronaut's untimely death. The protocols for handling such a situation are not only groundbreaking but also deeply personal and complex.

Current Protocols and Practices

According to current protocols, in the event of an astronaut's death in space, the body would be returned to Earth. This would include a brief funeral ceremony, followed by cremation or burial, depending on the wishes of the family and cultural traditions. For instances where the astronaut died during an Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) and was not tethered, there's a higher likelihood they would burn up during reentry into Earth's atmosphere, becoming a satellite in the process.

Specific Situations and Contingency Plans

The ISS itself has a fridge, which can be used to refrigerate the body until a mission can retrieve it. This is particularly important for an astronaut who dies inside the station, where their remains would be bagged and cold-stored until the next return to Earth. A cursory autopsy might also be performed to determine the cause of death (COD), although such procedures would be limited by the available resources and expertise in space.

Theoretical Considerations and Future Plans

The first space funeral, whenever it occurs, will be an unprecedented event. Given the diverse backgrounds and cultural beliefs of the astronauts residing on the ISS, the protocols for such an event would likely be highly dependent on the individual astronaut and the wishes of their family and nation. International leaders would likely play a significant role in these proceedings due to the global nature of space travel, and the edicts of the astronaut's religious or cultural beliefs would likely be given considerable weight.

Consider the case of the ill-fated Soyuz 11 mission in 1971. All three cosmonauts aboard perished due to a rapid de-pressurization, necessitating a different approach. In the ISS context, the challenges are different but no less daunting. The situation of a single astronaut's death, however, would simplify decision-making, as the need for handling multiple remains could be avoided.

Ethical and Practical Challenges

The decision to jettison a body into space poses significant ethical and practical challenges. The United Nations' rules on space debris are strict, and littering in space is highly discouraged. Moreover, the astronaut's family might want to have something to bury or remember the loved one by, apart from the footage of the body being jettisoned.

Recognizing these complexities, NASA has considered alternative solutions, such as the "Body Back" technique. This method, developed in collaboration with the Swedish company Promessa Organic, involves freeze-drying the body in the vacuum of space and returning the remains to Earth for burial. The body is sealed in a bag and exposed to near-absolute-zero temperatures, leading to the eventual drying and desiccation of the flesh. After sufficient exposure, the dried remains are shaken until they form a fine dust, which can be returned to the family in a container for burial.

Conclusion and Reflection

The issues surrounding the death of an astronaut in space are a microcosm of the broader moral and logistical quandaries that define space exploration. As we plan to extend our reach further into the cosmos, the handling of such sensitive situations will likely become a standardized practice, including the "icy cremation" in the vacuum of space, as suggested by some.

Let us reflect on the words of Robert Frost, a poet not a NASA astronaut on Quora, who wrote:

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what Irsquo;ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Thank you for your interest in this fascinating topic, and for any additional insights or questions you might have, please feel free to reach out.