Space is latest destination for Maine man's ashes that have been scattered all over the world

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2013 file photo, an urn containing the ashes of C.J. Twomey sits on a shelf at his parent's home in Auburn, Maine. C.J. committed suicide three and a half years earlier. On Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, a rocket containing a vial of C.J.’s ashes was launched from the New Mexican desert into space before landing in the White Sands Missile Range. His ashes had previously been released in nearly all 50 states and dozens of places overseas. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2013 file photo, Hallie Twomey poses with a photo of her son, C.J., at her home in of Auburn, Maine. C.J. committed suicide three and a half years earlier. On Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, a rocket containing a vial of C.J.’s ashes was launched from the New Mexican desert into space before landing in the White Sands Missile Range. His ashes had previously been released in nearly all 50 states and dozens of places overseas. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) (The Associated Press)

The ashes of a Maine man that have been scattered all over the world by strangers who connected with his mother on social media are now being launched into space.

Using her Facebook page, Auburn resident Hallie Twomey has mailed hundreds of packets of her son C.J.'s ashes to people willing to scatter them on beaches, mountains and other places he didn't get to visit before he died four years ago.

On Thursday morning, a vial of C.J.'s ashes will take a new journey when it is launched in a rocket from the New Mexico desert. The rocket will spend a few minutes in space before landing in the White Sands Missile Range.

The roughly $1,000 memorial spaceflight is being paid for by Celestis, the company that arranged the launch.