Rocketry Planet

SYDNEY, Queensland, AUS – Many people would want their ashes scattered in the ocean, but not Karl McManus - he wanted his rocketed into outer space.

Norman McGeoch with the rocket that will launch the ashes of Karl McManus 7.6km into space. Photo: Sam Ruttyn.`

So when the 43-year-old from Sydney's north shore died last year after contracting Lyme disease, his mate Norman McGeoch set to work making good on a pact the two special- effects workers made five years earlier.

"We were having beers when I said to him I wanted my ashes launched. We agreed it would be a reciprocal arrangement," Mr McGeoch said.

The 52-year-old is now building a rocket and training with the Australian branch of the Tripoli Rocketry Association to launch his mate's ashes in September, the anniversary of his death.

Mr McManus died after he was bitten by a tick while working on the set of Home and Away in 2007.

"Originally, we wanted to launch him 100km, which is (roughly) the definition of outer space," Mr McGeoch said.

However, the plan was scaled back when it was found the US was one of few locations that caters for launches to such heights.

"We decided to do it in Australia so we could have Karl's wife and his friends there," Mr McGeoch said.

The trade-off was with the Tripoli Rocketry Association, which is certified to fire to 25,000 feet at a site in Bendigo, Victoria."It's a long way up, so by the time it gets to that height it's not even a dot in the sky," he said.

Once the rocket reaches its maximum height, a mechanism will automatically open, releasing the ashes.

Mr McGeoch said the two men bonded working as special effects technicians on movie and TV sets including on Home and Away.

"We blew stuff up together. He blew up a bus; I blew up Alf Stewart's caravan - it was great fun."