Author Topic: 'Star Trek' actor James Doohan's ashes sent to space (Read 2593 times)

#1 • May 24, 2012

I'm not a star trek fan but I thought this was pretty interesting. Hopefully soon they will transport more than just civilians' ashes into space. I think the fact that so many other peoples ashes were sent out with the actor's ashes makes it a little less special but it's still pretty awesome that people who wanted that will finally get their wish.

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/05/star-trek-actor-james-doohans-ashes-sent-space

Quote

Actor James Doohan, who was best known for playing Scotty on Star Trek, was granted his wish of having his ashes sent to space on Tuesday.

The actor died in 2005 at age 85.

However, an attempt to send his ashes into space proved unsuccessful in 2008.

Happily, Doohan and over 300 other deceased individuals had their cremated remains sent into orbit thanks to SpaceX’s unmanned Falcon 9 rocket, which launced from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Other people whose ashes were sent to the stars include Gordon Cooper, who was one of the Mercury seven astronauts. He died in 2004.

Over 200 of those people, like Doohan, had previously unsuccessful attempts to get their ashes into space, which was mainly due to technical difficulties.

The rocket also carried food and supplies for the six people currently living in the International Space Station.

SpaceX is a private company under contract to NASA to take cargo to the station. Tuesday’s launch was the first indication that the company could fulfill its end of that contract. NASA has spent roughly $300 million to fund SpaceX under COTS, the Commercial Orbital Transportation System.

Plans to have the Falcon rocket carry astronauts are on the drawing board.