What happens if someone dies in space?

If an astronaut were to die on Mars, neither cremation nor burial would be good options.

By: Emmanuel Urquieta, Baylor College of Medicine , The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 19, 2026

Words: 891

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

By Emmanuel Urquieta, Baylor College of Medicine

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

What happens if someone dies in space? – Guillermo, Palm Beach, Florida

There’s no question that sending human beings to space is an extraordinarily difficult and perilous proposition.

Since human space exploration began over 60 years ago, …

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