When does my DNA need to be returned by?

LifeShip has a series of missions planned over the next few years. Your DNA will go on the next available mission from whenever it is returned. Check the Missions page to see the current mission being boarded.

What else will my DNA get used for?

We won’t sequence your DNA, sell your DNA, share your DNA, or otherwise use your DNA. Your information is safe. We take your privacy seriously—read our policy here. 

How does my DNA get to the Moon?

Your DNA gets preserved in a genetic time capsule and launched on a rocket. The capsule goes on a lunar lander along with other payloads and NASA missions. Check the Missions page to see the specific mission you will be on.

The rocket launches into orbit and then does a few laps around the Earth to gain altitude before slinging the lander into a lunar capture orbit. Once the lander with the capsule containing your DNA touches down on the Moon, it stays there forever!

When are the launches?

We've already launched twice to space and are on upcoming missions to the Moon. Visit the missions page for dates.

What about contaminating or polluting space bodies? Is this legal?

We care deeply about protecting space! Your DNA is an inert molecule and we store it in a sterilized capsule following standard space protocols. This mission is legal according to international space agreements. NASA recently updated Planetary Protection policies and cleared biological missions to anywhere on the Moon except the permanently shadowed icy regions.

How long will my DNA last? What about radiation?

The capsule has radiation shielding and contains thousands of copies of your DNA. It will degrade over time, but even fragments can be pieced back together. Scientists have decoded Woolly Mammoth and Neanderthal DNA by reassembling tiny fragments using existing technology. We estimate your DNA will be recoverable for about 10,000 years.

How does my DNA get stored?

Your DNA gets extracted from your cells contained in the saliva sample. It gets preserved in a synthetic amber polymer and included in the capsule with DNA from other species and humans. All DNA is stored together for miniaturization. Scientists can isolate and decode DNA from combined samples using existing technology.

How do I know my DNA is actually on the Moon? What do I get to see?

You’ll get email updates showing the steps of the mission throughout the whole journey—from how the DNA is processed in the lab to the final landing site on the Moon. And the best part? You will get a VIP invite to watch live for both the rocket launch and lunar landing!

What if the rocket doesn’t make it?

Space exploration is challenging, and unfortunately, rockets do sometimes explode. If your DNA doesn’t make it to the Moon on your scheduled mission, we promise you’ll go again on our next launch for free.

What could my DNA be used for?

Because the genetic time capsule is designed for the far future, none of us will ever actually know for sure. Perhaps it will be found by a future civilization and used to recreate our planet as it is today. Our descendants could carry your code to the stars to seed a brand new world. While this is all theoretical, we believe it is worth saving our genetic blueprints of life on Earth for generations in the future.

Why should I send my DNA to space with LifeShip?

You get to be part of space exploration, going on a real mission and sending a piece of you where few have been. You preserve your family’s genes for the future and leave a forever legacy among the stars. You'll look at the Moon for the rest of your life with a new sense of wonder. And your loved ones get an eternal connection to you through the cosmos.

Do you ship internationally?

Please visit our Shipping Policy page for details.

What is your return policy?

Please visit our Return Policy page for details.