United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket blasts off with Houston-based Celestis’ human remains

United Launch Alliance successfully launched its first Vulcan rocket to orbit in the early morning hours of Jan. 8, sending a NASA-funded commercial probe on a journey to the moon. The rocket is also carrying a payload of 234 human remains and genetic samples to a permanent orbit nearer the sun for Houston-based Celestis Inc., which arranges deep-space interments.