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Ashes of Star Trek's James Doohan Destroyed in Rocket Launch
Finely riding that razored edge between tragedy and comedy, the New York Times reports that not only did the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket lose its three satellites and fail to reach orbit during a recent launch, but it also destroyed the remains of actor James Doohan, best known as the original 'Star Trek's' Chief Engineer "Scotty." The actor's ashes -- as well as those of over 200 others -- were being carried into orbit by the rocket when complications with the ship's stage separation led to the (assumed) destruction of the craft. This recent mishap puts a sad period on the end of the sentence that already included an earlier loss and eventual recovery of the remains. [Source: New York Times Via Slashdot]
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Comments
63
Subscribe to commentseloiseAug 6th 2008 2:11PM
Hope none you ever find yourselves homeless and starving. Harsh words from some who haven't "walked in those shoes...." I'd be cautious, very cautious about my own status in life since none of it's designed to remain the same forever. A little more understanding about how life challenges us in different ways might help. Simmer down, I'd say, and learn a wee bit of compassion, ok? An oldtimer, chuckle.
BalderdasheryAug 6th 2008 2:58PM
This was Mr. Doohan's second trip into space. The first was last year; one gram (lipstick size capsule) went into a 4 minute SUB-orbit, and returned with the distinction of having traveled in "space."
Charlie Chafer is the owner of these space "burial" services, called "Space Services, Inc."
You're not actually "buried" in space; you don't embark on an endless orbit of the Earth. The duration of the flight all depends on the apogee of the orbit, and can range from two to several hundred years, depending on the service the customer requests.
For space-burial purposes, family members provide one to seven grams of the deceased's ashes, which are placed in an individually engraved capsule for the flight. Capsules are collected for each mission, then placed into a module that is integrated with the spacecraft.
Several options are offered. For those wanting their cremains to simply touch the edge of space, an Earth Return service means the module containing their remains is integrated with a sub-orbital rocket, most commonly used for experimentation purposes. The slender rocket flies to the boundary of space (62 miles altitude), and is recovered after completion of the flight.
For longer-term memorial flights, modules are integrated as a secondary payload with satellites that can circle the globe for many years. When the satellite's orbit decays and enters denser air in the upper atmosphere, it is consumed in the inferno of reentry, along with clients' cremains. This will usually take anywhere from 5 to 200 years.
Moon burials and deep-space burials are also in the offing for clients. The cremains of Eugene Shoemaker, co-discoverer of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, were carried aboard the Lunar Prospector until the end of its one-year mission, when it was deliberately crashed into the lunar surface near the South Pole. To date, Shoemaker is the only individual to be buried on the moon.
The first deep-space mission will be offered during the 2009-2010 period. The deep-space burials will likely be offered on future launches of scientific interstellar probes.
Space Services typically charges $495 to launch one gram on its Earth Return service, or $995 for seven grams. For clients wanting the Earth-orbit option, the ticket to ride starts at $1,295 for a one-gram capsule.
KarenSep 18th 2008 11:26AM
Isn't that the 3rd attempt?
I came across this. It looks like Doohan's son is in the new Star Trek.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1067053/