Teen Makes Space Final Resting Place

Greg Brown lost his battle with leukemia and became the first Oklahoman to make space his final resting place. The News On 6's Rick Wells reports the Tulsa Air and Space Museum has opened a special exhibit to honor Greg and his dream of space travel.

Just before Christmas of 1999, a Taurus rocket took the cremated remains of 36 people into orbit.

September Brown was celebrating for her son. Greg had always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a dream short circuited by leukemia when he was 14-years-old.

"There are lots of kids out there who aspire to be astronauts, and have the same hopes and dreams Greg did, in a way this is for them," said September Brown.

It's a new exhibit at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum dedicated to Greg Brown and his dream of space travel, family and friends stopped by to have a look. Greg had received a bone marrow transplant before he died. Opening the exhibit on July 2nd honors that bone marrow donor's birthday.

Greg built and launched model rockets. He met real astronauts, there are autographed hats. There's a video of his trip into space, plus the story of his battle with leukemia, it's all there.

"He'll be remembered, and his dream will be remembered by anyone who ever sees this," said September Brown.

This is a replica of the vial which contains a small amount of Greg's cremated remains. Celestis is the company that arranges for the launch. They estimate the remains will stay in orbit more than 50 years.

"Now his ashes orbit every 90 minutes," said September Brown.

He is the first Oklahoman to have his remains put into orbit.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, actor James "Scotty" Doohan of Star Trek and Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper are among those whose cremated remains are orbiting the earth.