Doohan's Ashes Loaded Into Rocket

[Vic 17]

'Star Trek' star's ashes headed to final frontier

 

 

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The ashes of James Doohan, who played chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the original Star Trek TV series, have been loaded into a rocket that is set to launch in New Mexico later this month.

The remains of Doohan, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and some 200 others were loaded into the rocket Friday by Charles Chafer, chief executive of Celestis, a Texas company that contracts with rocket firms to send cremated remains into space.

 

"And we're ready to go," Chafer said after inserting the silver canister.

 

Jerry Larson, president of Connecticut-based UP Aerospace Inc., said the rocket will be launched April 28.

 

Families paid $495 to have a few grams of their loved one's ashes placed on the rocket.

 

Chafer said he's aware of the dedication of Star Trek fans.

 

"There's no doubt that we'll find a way to accommodate fans who travel here and want to be part of that experience," he said.

 

Doohan died in July 2005 at age 85.

 

The remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were blasted into space in 1997.

 

Further information from the company organising the launch can be found here.

 

USA Today

[Kor37 9]

'Star Trek' star's ashes headed to final frontier

 

 

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The ashes of James Doohan, who played chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the original Star Trek TV series, have been loaded into a rocket that is set to launch in New Mexico later this month.

The remains of Doohan, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and some 200 others were loaded into the rocket Friday by Charles Chafer, chief executive of Celestis, a Texas company that contracts with rocket firms to send cremated remains into space.

 

"And we're ready to go," Chafer said after inserting the silver canister.

 

Jerry Larson, president of Connecticut-based UP Aerospace Inc., said the rocket will be launched April 28.

 

Families paid $495 to have a few grams of their loved one's ashes placed on the rocket.

 

Chafer said he's aware of the dedication of Star Trek fans.

 

"There's no doubt that we'll find a way to accommodate fans who travel here and want to be part of that experience," he said.

 

Doohan died in July 2005 at age 85.

 

The remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were blasted into space in 1997.

 

Further information from the company organising the launch can be found here.

 

USA Today

Isn't it a shame that with all of the pics of Doohan available, they have to pick one which was obviously taken at the height of his Alzeimers?...............

[Gummy 0]

I prefer this pic of Jimmy. From Generations, his last film appearance as Capt. Scott:

[Kor37 9]

I prefer this pic of Jimmy. From Generations, his last film appearance as Capt. Scott:

 

 

A MUCH better pic!

[Gummy 0]

I prefer this pic of Jimmy. From Generations, his last film appearance as Capt. Scott:

 

 

A MUCH better pic!

I used to have countless others on my old computer.

This was the best that I have on my new one.

[Entil'Zha 0]

James Doohan is truly a sad, sad loss, a true global treasure. My mother went to a star trek convention some years before I was born and spent hours in line waiting for an autograph from William Shatner, only to be scared off when he went on some lunatic bull wrap about "do you support my cause? What will you do to save the whales?", my mother replied politely "i'm just a loyal fan" and before she could get her autograph signed he screamed at her that he didn't have time to deal with children like her who didn't believe in his purpose in life and to get out of line.

 

She ran off crying, James Doohan and Deforest Kelley in hot pursuit, trying to bring her back to get an autograph and spend some time with the less insane members of the cast. Despite their best efforts they couldn't catch up to her as she sped off to who-knows-where out of embarrassment at shatner's comments.

 

Doohan and Kelley didn't have to get up and chase her, but they did. They risked pissing off a long line of fans in a hot auditorium, a line that wasn't getting any shorter or more patient, to rescue a young woman and make sure she went home with a happy memory.

 

Thank you James and Deforest...through her stories of that day, your efforts have shown me how to care for each and every fan once my career as an author takes off.

 

James Doohan was a good man and he took a small piece of my heart with him when he passed beyond the veil...my love to his family...please continue the legacy of kindness and compassion he stood for.

 

You're right...I like this pic more...and I think James would have as well.

 

I prefer this pic of Jimmy. From Generations, his last film appearance as Capt. Scott:

 

 

A MUCH better pic!

I used to have countless others on my old computer.

This was the best that I have on my new one.

[Kor37 9]

WOW! What a Shatner story!!.. :P I've never heard of Shatner behaving so badly at a con. Has anyone else heard of anything like this?