AUBURN, Maine (AP) — A Maine man’s ashes that have been scattered all over the world have taken their greatest journey yet: to space.

Using her Facebook page, which has more than 17,000 likes, Hallie Twomey (TOO’-mee) has connected with strangers willing to scatter the ashes of her son, who was 20 years old when he died four years ago.

C.J. Twomey’s ashes have been released in nearly all 50 states and dozens of places overseas, including Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Denmark.

On Thursday, a rocket containing a vial of C.J. Twomey’s ashes was launched into space from the desert in New Mexico before returning and landing at the nearby White Sands Missile Range.

C.J. Twomey’s ashes were among those of about three dozen others on the rocket. The launch was arranged by Celestis, which has completed 13 such memorial spaceflights.

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