Doohan's Ashes Are Launched Into Orbit

The ashes of James Doohan (Scotty) finally reached space last weekend during the first successful launch from Spaceport America.

Yahoo! reported that the ashes of the actor who played Montgomery Scott, plus those of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and over two hundred others, were sent into suborbital space on Saturday after a launch at 8:56 a.m. in New Mexico. The rocket parachuted back to the White Sands Missile Range precisely as it was expected to do.

UP Aerospace launched the rocket from the new commercial spaceport, which is eventually expected to serve as a launch point for Virgin Galactic - the space tourism company being developed by Richard Branson.

Houston company Celestic contracted with UP Aerospace to carry the remains of the various space buffs and futurists, who paid nearly $500 for a few grams of ashes. Doohan's widow, Wende Doohan, said that her husband had hoped to have his ashes launched into space after those of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were launched following his death.

A CD with more than 11,000 notes of condolence from fans was launched aboard the rocket with Doohan's remains.

Yahoo's full coverage is here.

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