Space.... the Final Frontier... Scotty's last Good bye

[American Patriot]

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.”

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.”

[American Patriot]

James DoohanAKA James Montgomery Doohan


Born: 3-Mar-1920
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died: 20-Jul-2005
Location of death: Redmond, WA
Cause of death: Pneumonia

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor
Nationality: United States
Executive summary: "Beam me up, Scotty"


Military service: Canadian Army
James Doohan was a bonafide war hero. An enlisted man who rose to captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery, he was in the frontlines on D-Day, where he was shot seven times, with an eighth bullet lodging in his metal cigarette case. Three bullets shredded the middle finger of his right hand. Eventually, the finger was amputated, which is occasionally noticeable in Star Trek episodes and movies. Returning from the war, Doohan worked as an actor on Canadian radio, then came to New York, where he studied drama alongside classmates Leslie Nielsen and Tony Randall. He was a regular on the Canadian kids' science fiction series Space Command. His early American television work included episodes of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Daniel Boone, The FBI, Hazel, The Virginian, and The Outer Limits.


Gifted at mimicry, Doohan invented his Star Trek character's Scottish accent when he auditioned for the role. "I did about eight different accents when I was reading... Gene asked me which one I liked, and I said, If you want an engineer, you'll want a Scotsman... and he made me Montgomery Scott." In pre-production for the first Star Trek movie in 1978, Doohan performed several odd vocal grunts and growls, in a light-hearted attempt at "speaking Klingon". These sounds were later expanded by linguists into the Klingon language spoken on screen and by Trek obsessives.


After Star Trek was cancelled in 1969, Doohan was just another out-of-work actor, but it wasn't until the early 1970s, when Star Trek reruns became popular, that he started feeling typecast. Flat broke and close to unemployable, Doohan wondered if Star Trek might have the biggest mistake of his career -- until he noticed he could make a very nice living just making personal appearances as "Scotty". In subsequent years, Doohan played Commander Canarvin on Jason of Star Command, co-authored three science fiction novels with S. M. Stirling, and occasionally appeared on The Bold & The Beautiful. Trading on Scotty's expertise in high-tech matters, Doohan narrated the 1999 documentary Cold Fusion: Fire From Water. For the animated Star Trek series, Doohan provided the voice of Scott and another character, Lt. Arex. In one episode, he voiced seven different characters.


His performance as the miracle-working engineer inspired many young people to choose that career -- so many, in fact, that when Doohan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and announced that he would be withdrawing from public life, the news was mourned in NASA newsletters and far-from-fandom publications like Aviation Week and Space Technology. In a grand tribute, the 2004 edition of an annual Star Trek convention in Hollywood was dedicated to Doohan, and dubbed "The James Doohan Farewell Star Trek Convention". It was announced as Doohan's last public appearance.


Father: William Patrick Doohan (researcher, alcoholic)
Wife: Janet Young (m. 1949, div. 1964, four children)
Daughter: Larkin Doohan (nurse, b. 1954)
Daughter: Deirdre Doohan (singer, b. 1957)
Son: Montgomery Doohan (twin, b. 1959)
Son: Christopher Doohan (musician, The Mudflaps, twin, b. 1959)
Wife: Anita Yagel (m. 1967, div. 1972)
Wife: Wende Braunberger (m. 1975, three children)
Son: Eric Doohan (author, The Pocket Player's Guide for Magic: The Gathering)
Son: Thomas Doohan
Daughter: Sarah Doohan (b. 11-Apr-2000)

High School: Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, Sarnia, Ontario (1938)


Hollywood Walk of Fame 31-Aug-2004
Shot: Battle D-Day (6-Jun-1944)
Risk Factors: Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Obesity, Amputee, Parkinson's, Smoking

TELEVISION
Star Trek Scotty
The Bold and the Beautiful Damon Warwick

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Bug Buster (1998)
Trekkies (18-Oct-1997) Himself
Star Trek: Generations (18-Nov-1994)
Loaded Weapon 1 (5-Feb-1993)
Double Trouble (14-Feb-1992)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (6-Dec-1991)
Knight Rider 2000 (19-May-1991)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (9-Jun-1989)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (26-Nov-1986)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1-Jun-1984)
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (4-Jun-1982)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (7-Dec-1979)
Man in the Wilderness (24-Nov-1971)
Pretty Maids All in a Row (28-Apr-1971)

[American Patriot]

Biographical Data	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058

---

Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)
NASA Astronaut (Deceased)
PERSONAL DATA: Born March 6, 1927 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His interests included treasure hunting, archeology, racing, flying, skiing, boating, hunting and fishing. Gordon Cooper passed away on October 4, 2004, at his home in Ventura, California, at the age of 77.
EDUCATION: Attended primary and secondary schools in Shawnee, Oklahoma and Murray, Kentucky; received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in 1956; recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Oklahoma City University in 1967.
ORGANIZATIONS: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The American Astronautical Society, The Blue Lodge Masons, The York Rite Masons, The Scottish Rite Masons, The Royal Order of Jesters, The Sojourners, The Rotary Club, The Daedalians, The Confederate Air Force, The Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts of America.
SPECIAL HONORS: The Air Force Legion of Merit, The Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross Cluster, The NASA Exceptional Service Medal, The NASA Distinguished Service Medal, USAF Command Astronaut Wings, The Collier Trophy, The Harmon Trophy, The Scottish Rite 33, The York Rite Knight of the Purple Cross, The DeMolay Legion of Honor, The John F. Kennedy Trophy, The Ivan E. Kincheloe Trophy, The Air Force Association Trophy, The Primus Trophy, The John Montgomery Trophy, The General Thomas E. White Trophy, The Association of Aviation Writers Award, The University of Hawaii Regents Medal, The Columbus Medal, The Silver Antelope, The Sport Fishing Society of Spain Award.
EXPERIENCE: Cooper, an Air Force Colonel, received an Army commission after completing three years of schooling at the University of Hawaii. He transferred his commission to the Air Force and was placed on active duty by that service in 1949 and given flight training.

His next assignment was with the 86th Fighter Bomber Group in Munich, Germany, where he flew F-84s and F-86s for four years. While in Munich, he also attended the European Extension of the University of Maryland night school.

He returned to the United States and, after two years of study at AFIT, received his degree. He then reported to the Air Force Experimental Flight Test School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and, upon graduating in 1957, was assigned as an aeronautical engineer and test pilot in the Performance Engineering Branch of the Flight Test Division at Edwards. His responsibilities there included the flight testing of experimental fighter aircraft.

He logged more than 7,000 hours flying time--4,000 hours in jet aircraft. He had flown all types of Commercial and General aviation airplane and helicopters.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Colonel Cooper was selected as a Mercury astronaut in April 1959.

On May 15-16, 1963, he piloted the "Faith 7" spacecraft on a 22-orbit mission which concluded the operational phase of Project Mercury. During the 34 hours and 20 minutes of flight, Faith 7 attained an apogee of 166 statute miles and a speed of 17,546 miles per hour and traveled 546,167 statute miles.

Cooper served as command pilot of the 8-day 120-revolution Gemini 5 mission which began on August 21, 1965. It was on this flight that he and pilot Charles Conrad established a new space endurance record by traveling a distance of 3,312,993 miles in an elapsed time of 190 hours and 56 minutes. Cooper also became the first man to make a second orbital flight and thus won for the United States the lead in man-hours in space by accumulating a total of 225 hours and 15 minutes.

He served as backup command pilot for Gemini 12 and as backup commander for Apollo X.

Colonel Cooper logged 222 hours in space.

He retired from the Air Force and NASA in 1970.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

• From 1962 to 1967, he was President of Performance Unlimited, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of race and Marine engines, and fiberglass boats.
• From 1963 to 1967, he was President of GCR, Inc. They designed, tested and raced championship cars at Indianapolis and other USAC tracks, conducted tire tests for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and pioneered turbine engine installation on cars.
• From 1965 to 1970, he was President of Teletest, Inc. They designed, installed and tested various systems using advanced Telemetry.
• From 1966 to 1969, he participated with Doubloon, Inc., on design, construction, and utilization of Treasure Hunting equipment.
• From 1968 to 1969, he participated with Cosmos, Inc., on Archeology exploration projects.
• From 1968 to 1970, he was part owner and race project manager of the Profile Race Team. He also designed, raced and constructed high performance boats.
• From 1968 to 1970, he was a Technical Consultant for corporate acquisitions and public relations for the Republic Corp.
• From 1967 to 1969, he was Technical Consultant for design and construction of various automotive production items for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler Motor Companies.
• From 1970 to 1972 he was Member of the Board of Directors and Technical Consultant for developing technical products and public relations in land development projects for Canaveral International, Inc.
• From 1970 to 1975, he was President of the consulting firm Gordon Cooper & Associates, Inc. They specialized in technical projects ranging from airline and aerospace fields to land and hotel development.
• From 1970 to 1974, he was on the Board of Directors for APECO which produced and marketed modular homes, computer systems, office systems, copy machines and boats and marine equipment.
• From July 1972 to June 1973, he was a Member of Board of Directors and Technical Consultant for Campco, a corporation which built campers and mobile homes.
• From August 1972 to December 1973, He was on the Board of Directors and a Technical Consultant for design and production of various advanced electronic systems for LowCom Systems, Inc.
• From 1972 to 1973, he was on the Board of Directors and a Technical Consultant for design and construction of lifting, inflatable, steerable foils which could land cargo and/or personnel at a precise spot for Aerofoil Systems, Inc.
• From July 1973 to January 1974, he was Vice President and member of the Board of Directors for Craftech Corporation. They specialized in the design and construction of economical homes, garages, storage buildings, and hangers of Craftboard and fiberglass.
• From January 1973 to 1975, he was Chairman of the Board for Constant Energy Systems, Inc.
• From January 1973 to 1975, he was Vice President for Research and Development/EPCOT for Walter E. Disney Enterprises, Inc., the research and development subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions.
  

OCTOBER 2004
This is the only version available from NASA.

[MTStringer]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/05/1....ap/index.html


'Scotty's' 'beamed up' ashes fall in New Mexico

POSTED: 9:43 a.m. EDT, May 19, 2007


Story Highlights

• "Star Trek" actor James Doohan's ashes launched April 28
• Rocket official: Payload "landed where we wanted it"
• Ashes, in cylinders, found in rugged area of missile base
• Cylinders to be mounted on plaques and given to families

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WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, New Mexico (AP) -- A rocket payload that flew briefly into space with ashes of astronaut Gordon Cooper and "Star Trek" actor James Doohan was recovered Friday in the New Mexico mountains.
The payload was found in its designated recovery zone 20 days after Farmington, Connecticut-based UP Aerospace sent it up in a 20-foot rocket on April 28.
The rocket, the first to be successfully launched into space from the fledgling Spaceport America in southern New Mexico, made a 4-minute suborbital flight before drifting back to Earth. (Read more about the launch of Doohan's ashes into space)
On board were partial ashes from Cooper, Doohan -- who played Scotty on "Star Trek" -- and 200 others, including John Meredith Lucas, a writer for the original "Star Trek" series.
The payload landed in rocky, steep terrain in the San Andres Mountains on White Sands Missile Range, east of the spaceport, and was found by a UP Aerospace crew with help from White Sands.
UP Aerospace co-founder Eric Knight said the payload "landed where we wanted it to be. It was just in difficult terrain."
"And some days, the weather was not cooperative," he said.
Wende Doohan, James Doohan's widow, said he "was in great company with Gordon and Meredith Lucas."
"He probably wished he could have stayed" in space, Doohan said in a telephone interview from her home in Renton, Washington.
"When Senator John Glenn went up in space (aboard the shuttle Discovery in 1998), he said, 'They're starting to use seniors now,' and he wanted to put his name on the list," Doohan said.
The remains of the 202 people were in sealed metal capsules designed to withstand the rigors of space flight.
The cylinders will be mounted on plaques mentioning the space flight and given to the families who provided the ashes.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.