Ashes of Star Trek's Scotty finally heading to space this fall
HOUSTON, Texas (CP) - The delayed plans to send Vancouver-born actor James Doohan's ashes to space are back on track again, with a launch date set for this fall.
Doohan, who played chief engineer Scotty on the original Star Trek TV series, died July 20, 2005, at age 85. Plans were made to send some of his ashes into space this year - it was one of his last requests - but a fire aboard a rocket in March resulted in a delay of the launch.
Space Services Inc., a private Houston company, now plans the launch for Oct. 21, spokesperson Susan Schonfeld said Monday. Also on the flight will be ashes of former NASA astronaut Gordon Cooper.
The company offers a price structure with various options, including $495 US for one gram of ashes.
The company says it pioneered "post-cremation memorial spaceflights" with the launch of remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and '60s pop icon Timothy Leary into space in 1997. - Canada.com
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HOUSTON, Texas (CP) - Scotty's return to space has been delayed - again.
Ashes of the Vancouver-born actor James Doohan - famous for playing chief engineer Montgomery Scott on the original "Star Trek" TV series - had been scheduled to be launched into space Saturday but a malfunction during a recent test flight has caused a delay.
Doohan died July 20, 2005, at age 85.
"That rocket went 7 1/2 nautical miles up and it developed a wobble ... they are correcting the problem," said Susan Schonfeld, spokesperson for Space Services Inc.
The flight, from a New Mexico launch site, is now expected to take place sometime before the end of the year, Schonfeld said Friday. The date will be posted when known to the website www.spaceservicesinc.com.
Ashes of former NASA astronaut Gordon Cooper and 177 others are also to be on the flight, said Schonfeld. - Canada.com
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