The Odyssey Flight was launched September 21, 2001 at 11:49 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus rocket. The launch occurred at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Unfortunately, there was a launch anomaly that prevented the spacecraft's primary and secondary payloads (including The Odyssey Flight) from reaching orbit. The overwhelming majority of families elected to launch their loved one's cremated remains samples on a subsequent Celestis mission.

As usual, we welcomed friends, family members, and others as our special guests for a launch pad tour, launch viewing, and memorial activities.

In addition to the Celestis payload, this flight included Orbital Imaging Corporation's OrbView-4 imaging satellite and a NASA satellite called "QuikTOMS" (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) for measuring levels of ozone in Earth's atmosphere.

Official Odyssey Flight Video Official Celestis video of The Odyssey Flight provided to families of those on board
"My husband was a deputy Sheriff. He was killed in the line of duty 1/5/97. This year will be his flight. This was his wish and I waited this long so our children (4 & 12) would be old enough to maybe understand where Daddy is going. On this his final flight, in words our children will understand, 'To infinity and beyond'. Thank you Celestis for being here to grant my husband's wish." Elizabeth Mangham-Haugen -- Celestis Earthview 04, The Odyssey Flight