In 2006, a Russian-American woman got married in orbit in a space wedding. The couple were able to share a video conference with their family and friends, despite the fact that they were hundreds of miles apart. Ekaterina Dmitrieva wore a specially designed space wedding gown, and her groom wore a custom-designed tuxedo from J.Lucas Clothiers. They even exchanged bow ties on the occasion. While one half of the couple was in orbit, the resulting space wedding had lasting effects on many people, even years after the event.
After completing a space flight, Yuri Malenchenko, a retired cosmonaut, married a U.S. citizen, Ed Lu, a fellow astronaut who was an administrator at the Cosmonaut Training Center. The marriage transmission was classified as a “private family conference.” The bride and groom marched in to the tune of David Bowie’s “Absolute Beginners”. They exchanged vows in front of an audience of hundreds of people in Houston, and the ceremony was live-streamed through the transmission.
The two remained together after the marriage, but the space wedding was a controversial event in Russia. It was a sign of a changing climate and the importance of keeping secrets. The ISS was closed off to the public, but the space station is still considered a safe place for the astronauts to live. A space wedding would be the first among other milestones in a human’s journey into outer space. Thousands of people have been married in space before, but few have had the privilege.
The space wedding itself was a memorable event. The couple were able to celebrate their nuptials by teleconferencing with their families and friends. A Florida-based firm called Space Perspective offers space balloon flights for their couples. The company’s balloons can carry up to eight people to up to 100,000 feet above earth. That’s a lot higher than the average commercial aeroplane, which cruises at 33,000 to 42,000 feet above sea level.
Despite the challenges of teleconferencing with distant family and friends, it is possible to marry in space. The Japanese space transport provider Rocketplane Kistler has partnered with a space wedding planner called First Advantage to help couples get married. The couple will be able to have their ceremony in the orbiting plane, which will cost 240 million yen (about $2.2 million). In addition, the Russian government said it would allow other cosmonauts to marry abroad.
After a successful test flight, Yuri’s mission was extended. He opted to marry in space, but his wedding couldn’t be postponed until 2024. Although Yuri’s profession is a high-risk one, there’s no reason he shouldn’t get married in space. He’ll also have to live in the stars for the rest of his life. So, a space wedding may be a perfect way to celebrate your love.