Stephen Hawking's voice to be beamed towards black hole thousands of light years away as his ashes are interred at Westminster Abbey

His family say the transmission into outer space is a message of peace and hope
Stephen Hawking: The late scientist's voice will be beamed into space
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Stephen Hawking’s voice will be beamed at a black hole deep in space as his ashes are interred at Westminster Abbey.

The late scientist’s words have been set to an original piece of music by famous composer Vangelis for the service on Friday.

And the broadcast will be beamed at our nearest black hole, thousands of light years away, as a message of “peace and hope”.

The outer space transmission will take place after the Service of Thanksgiving, Professor Hawking’s daughter said.

The scientist's voice will be beamed towards a black hole (file image)
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The service will feature readings and addresses from a number of people including astronaut Tim Peake and Benedict Cumberbatch, who played the physicist in a BBC drama.

Mourners arrive at the funeral of Prof Stephen Hawking

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Prof Hawking's children have expressed their gratitude to Westminster Abbey for allowing their father to have a "distinguished" final resting place between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

His daughter Lucy described the Vangelis composition as a "beautiful and symbolic gesture that creates a link between our father's presence on this planet, his wish to go into space and his explorations of the universe in his mind".

Scientist Stephen Hawking - In pictures

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She added: "The broadcast will be beamed towards the nearest black hole, 1A 0620-00, which lives in a binary system with a fairly ordinary orange dwarf star.

"It is a message of peace and hope, about unity and the need for us to live together in harmony on this planet."

One thousand members of the public, from more than 100 countries, have been offered the opportunity to attend the thanksgiving service, after a ballot attracted 25,000 applications for tickets.

Guests will be welcomed by volunteers from the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

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