Virgin Galactic sends human fossils to space, sparks debate

Fossilized remains of two ancient humans were launched into space for the first time on Virgin Galactic’s third commercial spaceflight.

The flight, which took place on September 8, 2023 , reached an altitude of 300,000 feet and experienced brief microgravity before returning to the launch site in Truth or Consequences , New Mexico .

The fossils included a two-million-year-old collarbone from an Australopithecus sediba, and a 250,000-year old thumb bone from a Homo naledi.