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'Scotty's' ashes to beam up soon
26/07/2006 13:13 - (SA)
Los Angeles - The ashes of actor James Doohan - "Scotty" of Star Trek fame, who died last year at age 85 - will be beamed into space in October, funeral organisers announced on Monday.
The actor - who became immortalised with the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty," a request his crew members would utter to his character on each episode of the television show - had expressed a final wish to be cremated and have his ashes scattered in space.
But his plan had some trouble taking off.
The Legacy Flight, originally scheduled for December 2005, was postponed several times but will finally take place in October with a launch from New Mexico, Space Services Inc (SSI), which will carry out the flight, said in a statement.
Accompanying Doohan's remains on the journey will be those of Mercury 7 astronaut Gordon Cooper "and at least 91 others," the statement said.
The company said a ceremony would be held prior to launch to honour the memory of those on board.
Houston, Texas-based SSI, which specialises in space funerals, counts Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and 1960s pop icon and LSD proponent Timothy Leary among its previous clients.
- SAPA
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