A Space Wedding Is a One-Of-A-Kind Event
It was in Houston that a Japanese cosmonaut, Sergei Malenchenko, married his American-born bride. The ceremony took place in zero gravity and was transmitted via satellite from the International Space Station. The couple spent 240 million yen on their wedding ceremony, but officials from Roscosmos and the military were hesitant to approve the ceremony because it would be against Russian military rules. Even though the ceremony was performed in zero gravity, the cosmonauts reportedly felt uncomfortable with the idea.
Now, there are plans for a space wedding in the United States. A Japanese company, Rocketplane Kistler, has teamed up with a wedding planner, First Advantage, to offer the service. The couple will be able to tie the knot on a suborbital rocket, which costs 240 million yen (about $2.2 million) and reaches an altitude of six2.1 miles or 100 kilometers. The flight will include a photo album to remember their special day.
Despite the risks, space weddings are still possible. The Russians have recently launched their first craft into orbit, and there is no need to worry about the legalities. As long as both partners are legally married, the ceremony will be secretive and confidential. The space station is home to astronauts, and the marriage ceremony will be transmitted live on a satellite from the International Space Station. The wedding is scheduled to start in 2011 and will be broadcast on the Internet.
The couple was allowed to marry via satellite video link in 2003, while Yuri Malenchenko was on the International Space Station. Although both were in the same country, only one half of the couple were in orbit. The event was celebrated as a unique experience, but the effects are felt years later. Currently, cosmonauts cannot get married in space, according to the terms of their contracts. A space wedding in 2011 would be the first in history.
The Russians have also begun to offer space weddings to foreigners. The first space wedding is scheduled for next year. It will cost 240 million yen, and will reach an altitude of 62.1 miles or 100 kilometers. The spaceplane will also have a photo album. The couple will also need to have a special helium-filled tuxedo. The entire experience is a one-of-a-kind memory for both of them.
The first space wedding was conducted in 2001 by an American citizen of Russian descent named Ekaterina Dmitrieva. The two were married via a video link while they were on the International Space Station. While they were not physically married, the couple’s first “space wedding” was a remarkable event. In fact, it was the first time a U.S. citizen and a Russian citizen could tie the knot in such a way.