The family of the late physicist Stephen Hawking revealed that the iconic scientist's voice would travel through space during a Westminster Abbey ceremony.
Commemorating Stephen Hawking's Life
Thousands of mourners are expected to descend onto Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom on Friday, June 15 to pay their final respects to the A Brief History of Time author. During the service of Thanksgiving, Hawking's family will release a special message from the physicist to outer space. The message will be accompanied by original music from Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire composer Vangelis.
Hawking's daughter, Lucy, stated that the message would be delivered to a black hole in the 1A 0620-00 binary star system. She disclosed that the black hole was near an orange dwarf star. It was also noted that the star system is 3,300 light years away from the Monoceros constellation.
The Service Of Thanksgiving
About 1,000 members of the public are expected to attend the celebration. This was after Hawking's family and the Stephen Hawking Foundation invited people to attend this extraordinary event. They received over 25,000 inquiries from more than 100 countries.
It is expected that actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who portrayed Hawking in a BBC drama, and British astronaut Team Peake will participate in the service. Hawking's ashes will be entombed between two other science icons, Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Guests will receive their copy of the message and composition at the ceremony.
"It is a message of peace and hope, about unity and the need for us to live together in harmony on this planet," said Lucy to BBC News.
Celebrating Hawking's Legacy
Book publisher John Murray revealed on May 16 that it would posthumously publish Hawking's final book in October. The publication is tentatively titled Brief Answers to the Big Question: Stephen Hawking. It is expected that portions of Hawking's last title would be split by two non-profit foundations, the Stephen Hawking Foundation and the Motor Neuron Disease Association. Amazon is expected to release the book on October 16.
Nate D. Sanders Auctions acquired a book that Hawking signed while he was a researcher at the University of Cambridge's Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. The book that Hawking signed was the first edition of Brian Bracegirdle's The Archaeology of the Industrial Revolution. It was a gift for an outgoing staff member. Nate D. Sanders Auctions placed the starting bid at $28,000.
On March 20, crowds lined the streets of Cambridge, England to pay homage to Hawking as invited mourners paid their respects to the scientist at the University Church Great St. Mary. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Queen co-founder Dr. Brian May, and actors Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones were among the celebrity guests who attended the service. Redmayne, Hawking's oldest son Robert, and Britain's Astronomer Royal Martin Rees played roles at the funeral service.
Tech Times reached out to the Stephen Hawking Foundation for a comment on the story
