Photo: Courtesy of Scott Gallagher
“We chose the Luna flight so that way, every time we look at the night sky and the moon, we will know Matthew is where he truly belongs,” Cori tells PEOPLE.
Matthew Gallagher sitting in the cockpit of a plane.Courtesy of Scott Gallagher
To do so, the Gallaghers are raising money viaGoFundMeto cover the flight, which has a starting price of $12,500, according to the Spaceflightswebsite.
As of Thursday more than $11,000 has been raised toward the fundraiser’s $14,000 goal.
“We knew that our only real way to honor him was to somehow get him to space,” Cori tells PEOPLE.
Courtesy of Scott Gallagher
In addition to being “a silly and loving kid,” Cori says Matthew had an “extreme love” for space, including, “NASA, SpaceX, anythingElon Musk, and flying.” She believes her son “knew from a young age he belonged in the sky,” as well.
Scott tells PEOPLE their son was even “registered for space camp this summer” at Kennedy Space Center — and “was ecstatic” about it.
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Matthew Gallagher inside a space capsule.Courtesy of Scott Gallagher
The Destiny Flight will bring Matthew’s remains to the moon in a “personal flight capsule,” according to the company’s website. Loved ones are also invited to attend the rocket’s launch and tour of the launch site prior to takeoff.
Matthew Gallagher wearing a NASA suit.Courtesy Scott Gallagher
Scott and Cori tell PEOPLE they are grateful for the support they’ve received from the community since telling their story.
This is “the greatest way to fulfill his greatest dream,” Scott says.
source: people.com
