Equipment used to launch the ashes of a much-loved astronomy enthusiast into space has disappeared.

The star-bound mission launched recently, but when the balloon carrying the load burst at 31km, scattering the ashes, the flight’s GPS signal was lost.

And his friends and family now need help finding recordings of the flight, which are thought to have landed near Faversham.

Nathan McLaughlin, 44, wanted to remember father figure Phil Robson in a special way after he died last October aged 65.

He said: “Phil didn’t want to have a funeral. He was a really big fan of astronomy and space science, so I had this idea.”

After raising £2,000 in donations, Nathan sought advice from experts and decided to launch Phil into the atmosphere in a huge helium-filled balloon.

His family and friends gathered for the occasion near where he had lived in West Sussex.

This means its payload, containing cameras recording the mission, disappeared.

Nathan is now asking Faversham residents to keep their eyes peeled for the cargo, which is held in a white polystyrene box attached to a neon green and orange parachute.

“The balloon burst about 15km south of Maidstone, and the wind should have taken the payload to Leaveland, “ he said.

“I believe the box would have survived, because it’s thick polystyrene and well insulated.

“On board that payload we have got high definition cameras, with video of the flight and other really good quality images.

“The equipment is not really worth a huge amount, the real value is the sentimental aspect.

“My theory is that it could have landed in a tree somewhere, or a lake. People may have seen it, but not known what it was.

“It would be really nice to have some good videos and images from the flight. It would mean so much if we could get it back.”

A reward is being offered to anyone who spots the payload or has information which could help locate it.