Growing Cannabis in Space: Lessons from the Nyx Crash

In June 2025, a space capsule known as Nyx, designed by German aerospace startup The Exploration Company, fell short of completing what was meant to be a groundbreaking mission. Launched aboard a SpaceX (SPCX ) Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-14 rideshare, the mission, aptly named “Mission Possible,” carried an unusual and symbolic mix of cargo: the cremated remains and DNA of more than 166 deceased individuals, and cannabis seeds and plant matter intended for scientific research.

But despite a successful launch and orbital journey, complications arose during reentry.

The Nyx capsule’s parachutes failed to deploy properly, and on June 24, 2025, it crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The loss was total. Both the commemorative ashes and the scientific cannabis cargo were lost at sea, along with the hope of completing one of the first steps toward sustainable bio-research in orbit. While no lives were directly at risk in the uncrewed mission, the symbolic and scientific weight of the crash has reverberated across multiple industries.

Why Was Cannabis in Space?

The inclusion of cannabis might seem strange at first, but this wasn’t about recreational use or a publicity stunt. The cannabis cargo, contributed by Martian Grow, a citizen science initiative, was on board to study how microgravity might affect the germination, resilience, and adaptive capacity of cannabis, particularly to provide insight into how life could adapt in space.

Cannabis was chosen for a reason. As a plant with therapeutic, nutritional, and industrial potential, cannabis and hemp could serve multiple roles in future space missions, including:

• Pharmaceutical use: Cannabinoids may help astronauts manage anxiety, pain, and sleep disruption in prolonged missions.
• Bioregenerative life support: Like other plants, cannabis contributes to oxygen production and carbon capture, which is essential for closed-loop systems in spacecraft or Martian habitats.
• Agricultural adaptability: Studying its germination and growth in microgravity offers insight into how plants might be cultivated beyond Earth.

The experiment sought to determine whether cannabis could germinate, root, and thrive in microgravity; all crucial for any long-term off-world agricultural plans. This was part of a broader trend in astrobotany, where scientists investigate the viability of growing food, fuel, and medicine in space.

Why Send Human Remains Into Space?

Also on board were the ashes and DNA of more than 166 people provided by Celestis, a Texas-based memorial spaceflight company. These symbolic flights give families a way to honor their loved ones by launching their remains into orbit.

This was not Celestis’ first memorial launch, nor was it their first incident of problems with the return. In 2023, a previous mission carrying the cremains of former NASA astronaut Philip K. Chapman was lost when a rocket exploded over New Mexico. The Nyx mission was meant to restore confidence in the future of commemorative spaceflights. Instead, it became another reminder of the risks inherent in pioneering commercial space travel.

While the remains were lost, Celestis issued a heartfelt message:

“We hope families will find some peace in knowing their loved ones were part of a historic journey, launched into space, orbited Earth, and are now resting in the vastness of the Pacific, akin to a traditional and honored sea scattering.”

Will Cannabis Be Grown in Space Someday?

This mission might have ended in disappointment, but the concept of space-grown cannabis is far from a gimmick. In fact, the intersection of cannabis and space exploration is slowly becoming a serious frontier in scientific research.

Interestingly, the cultural imagination got there first. In Episode 8 of Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series, Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles are recruited to grow cannabis in space, thanks to their unmatched “expertise.” The television show was designed for laughs, but now, as real scientists launch seeds into orbit, the line between satire and science is blurring.

If cannabis proves viable in space environments, it could serve several critical purposes for interplanetary missions, such as:

• Medical relief for astronauts facing psychological and physical stress
• Bio-based materials from industrial hemp
• Closed-system oxygen recycling for life support
• Mental health support via therapeutic cannabinoid compounds

Cannabis could one day be part of the toolkit that supports human life beyond Earth. Of course, rigorous experimentation is required, which is why the Nyx mission was so important, and why its “partial failure” is being taken seriously by the space science community.

What’s Next for Space-Grown Cannabis?

The Nyx crash marks a setback, but not a defeat, for both commemorative spaceflight and experimental space botany. As The Exploration Company stated in their post-mission analysis, this was a “partial success,” and they are committed to future re-flights and refining their technology.

Cannabis, once a controversial Earthbound crop, now represents something much larger: the search for sustainability, adaptability, and wellness in the most extreme environments imaginable.

The question is not if we’ll grow cannabis in space; the question is when.