Posted on 04/26/2007 6:00:46 PM PDT by KevinDavis
The rocket, only 20ft long and 10in wide, looked more like a big firework than a giant step for mankind. But, if all goes well tomorrow, its launch will be the first successful mission from the world’s all-commercial spaceport.
On board, as part of its 110lb (50kg) payload, will be a few grams of cremated remains from James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty in Star Trek. He had always wanted to experience a real trip into space, and when he died a couple of years ago he left money in his will for this purpose.
As the chief engineer for the USS Enterprise in the science fiction TV series, he was always being told that spaceships “needed more thrust”, and his real-life counterpart has good reason to be anxious about whether they will succeed tomorrow. A previous effort last September ended in failure when the rocket crashed a few seconds after launch. Since then it has undergone modifications that include boldly sticking on an extra tail fin where no tail fin had gone before.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
A famous quot of his
"I like Cap't Kirk, I just don't like Willian Shattner.
I got to meet James Doohan three times. A great gentleman. Got to shake his hand a couple of times.
Live long and prosper, Lt. Cdr Montgomery Scott. Ahead Warp Factor 8.
"I know this ship like the back of my ... ashes."
Lucky man, I’m guessing your screen name is just a coincidence. ;-D
Coincidence, maybe. I’m just a run of the mill, garden variety Trekker. I love the Original Star Trek. Didn’t see much of all the other incarnations. Spoiled rotten on the Real Deal. And I love the Enterprise, hence the NCC-1701.
James Doohan was a great person to meet. Certainly a few of my treasured memories.
Yep.
“Hollywood” needs more guys like him.
FWIW, his appearance on ST:TNG was (IMHO) the best of the old-timers’ performances on any of the spinoff series (the use of the vintage Tribbles footage in an episode of DS9 being the next best).
If it fails this time, maybe they could just place a trace in every ESTES rocket sold for the next two years.
“Show me the bridge of the Enterprise.”
“No bloody A,B,C OR D.”
Rest in peace Scotty.
“You soured the milk! You’re pullin’ an old man’s leg.” :’)
Cool! Branson has country music AND a spaceship?
Oh, not that Branson....
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