On or about 28 April, James Doohan's ashes will be launched into space aboard a privately built rocket, along with the ashes of Gordon Cooper and nearly 500 others.
Here's some articles on it:
It seems that actor James Doohan, Star Trek’s Scotty, indeed has a legacy to reach the final frontier as his ashes will reach space aboard a private rocket.
Along with James Doohan’s cremated remains will also travel the ashes of one of NASA’s first space travelers, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper, aboard a privately-built rocket set to launch from New Mexico this month.
The launch of a SpaceLoft XL rocket built by the private firm UP Aerospace is scheduled for April 28. SL-2, as it has been dubbed, will lift off from Spaceport America, a state-funded launch site near Upham, New Mexico and about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of the city of Las Cruces.
As you were probably wondering from the very beginning what the meaning of this could be, here is the answer. This is part of a special spaceflight that is a tribute – some 200 families have paid 495 U.S. dollars to have a few grams of their loved one's ashes placed on the rocket.
James Doohan played chief engineer Montgomery “Scotty†Scott on the original “Star Trek†TV series. He died in July 2005 at age 85. The remains of “Star Trek†creator Gene Roddenberry were blasted into space a decade ago, in 1997.
The rocket’s ‘passengers’ come from over 10 different countries. The spaceflight (the Legacy of Flight memorial) has been arranged for the Houston-based firm Celestis, Inc.
“Space remains the domain of the few, the dream of the many,†Celestis CEO Charles Chafer said in a statement. “With Celestis, the dream of spaceflight and the desire to take part in the opening of the space frontier can be realized – and is available to everyone.â€
Doohan's remains were initially meant to be sent into space two years ago, but the plan was later on put off due to a misfire during flight rehearsals.
According to Wikipedia’s entry on Doohan, the renowned actor suffered from Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and lung fibrosis in later life. He was present at the ceremony awarding him a star in Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 2004, despite his ill health.
Doohan passed away in 2005. His ashes are reportedly to be sent to space at his request. He was given an honorary Degree in Engineering by the Milwaukee School of Engineering where apparently half of the students polled said they were inspired to study engineering by his role in “Star Trek.â€
Bookmarks