Seven-Year-Old Girl’s DNA to Venture Deep into Space: A Stride towards Unknown Frontiers

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In a stride towards unknown frontiers, a young girl from northern Ontario is about to set a noteworthy record as the youngest individual to have her DNA in deep space.

Seven-year-old Victoria Lehto from Thunder Bay will hold the rather singular honour of becoming part of perhaps the most distant outpost of humanity, as her DNA will be thrust beyond the orbit of our moon later this year. An event that naturally has the young schoolgirl brimming with excitement.


This endeavor into the unknown is an outcome of a collaboration between her father, Ryan Lehto, a renowned DNA preservation expert, and Celestis, a company traditionally recognized for its memorial spaceflight services. Ryan Lehto, the mastermind behind numerous DNA preservation and Biobanking solutions, stated, “They wanted us to process DNA to go into space, so I developed some technology around that for it to be able to survive into space.”

Embracing this unique opportunity, a giddy Ryan expressed, “We had some celebrities come along and stuff like that as well, then they offered on the next space launch to send up one of us, so I said ‘well, let’s shoot Victoria up there.'”

Described as “the ultimate father-daughter project” by Celestis co-founder and Space Services Holdings Inc. CEO Charles Chafer, the mission resonates as a powerful endorsement of humanity’s faith in the future.

Victoria took an active role in this pioneering endeavor, personally preparing her own sample for the mission. This venture seems to reflect a budding love for the world of science, much like her father’s. In fact, the curious youngster runs her own YouTube channel imparting scientific knowledge to children of her age. “She’s really interested in helping other kids learn about science too,” beams her father.

Embarking on a journey to deep space, the seven-year-old’s DNA will take some time to reach either the orbit of Mars or Venus. Hopes are high that Victoria’s playful prediction does not ring true, as she envisioned aliens cloning her from her preserved DNA and launching an attack on Earth.

Originally slated for a May takeoff, the launch was delayed until December due to a hydrogen leak in one of the rocket’s stages. Ryan conceded that the postponement, albeit initially frustrating, now allows him to escort Victoria to Florida and witness her DNA’s historic journey to space firsthand.