We all know that space travel can be risky. After all, at least for me, the disasters of the Challenger and the Columbia are etched in my memory. But, you would think, if you were dead and having your ashes sent up into space, things might go smoothly. But, that is not necessarily the case.
Michele and I have written a couple of blogs about the ashes of actor James Doohan being shot up into space in a rocket. Now, this is nothing new. Each year, many people pay ($495 each) to have their ashes taken into space on a memorial spaceflight. In fact, you can learn more about a company that does it (Space Services, Inc.) in this blog. But, one of the most recent rocket missions made the news because James Doohan is not just an actor, but the beloved star that played Scotty on television’s “Star Trek” for three years and appeared in six of the feature films based on the series.
But, two weeks after James’ ashes were sent into space, they are still missing. Space Services, Inc. sent Doohan into space along with the ashes of astronaut Gordon Cooper and almost 200 others in a telephone pole sized Up Aerospace Spaceloft XL rocket on April 29. The rocket reached an altitude of 72.7 miles in the air then it came back down. Unfortunately, it came down in some mountains of New Mexico and although it has locator beacons, bad weather combined with the location in which it came down has made locating it difficult. However, a spokesman for Space Services said they are still looking for it and have the utmost confidence they will recover it.
By the way, did you know that the catchphrase that has become such a part of pop culture – “Beam me up, Scotty” – was never uttered on the show?