Somehow I Missed This: Tombaugh's Ashes are Aboard New Horizons

When the New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto it was the first time mankind has visited what is now called a dwarf planet.

On board that spacecraft, is a man – or rather his ashes – from New Mexico.

Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto as a young astronomer in Arizona. He later moved to New Mexico and founded the astronomy dept at New Mexico State University in 1955.

When NASA launched its Pluto mission 9 years ago, they placed a canister of Tombaugh’s ashes on board the spacecraft.

link.

hm.  Perhaps they ought to have named the spacecraft Tombaugh.  ah well.