James Doohan’s Ashes Successfully Launched Into Orbit

After a delay last Saturday, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was successfully launched this morning from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The Dragon capsule is now in orbit and headed to the ISS. Part of the payload includes the partial remains of Star Trek’s original Scotty, James Doohan. Watch the launch below.

 

SpaceX Rocket Blasts Into Orbit With Doohan’s Remains On Board

The third time is the charm. At a previous failed attempt in 2008 and a launch delay on Saturday, SpaceX (and Celestis) were finally able to get the late James Doohan’s ashes into space. The launch went off without a hitch at 3:44 AM this morning (EDT). Here is video of the launch (via NASA Kennedy).

On board the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket was the secondary payload from Celestis which includes a series of lipstick-tube-sized canisters containing the cremated remains of Doohan, who passed away in 2005. Other remains include those of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper. The Celestis payload separated from the vehicle and will remain in Earth orbit for a year before it falls back where it will burn up in re-entry. 


Payload with cremated remains which is now in Earth orbit

On hand for the launch was James Doohan’s widow Wende and daughter Sarah. Wende tweeted about the event from Florida.

Star Trek’s new Scotty Simon Pegg also marked the occasion with this tweet:

UPDATE: More Tweets from James’ son Chris and his Star Trek co-stars Leonard Nimoy & Nichelle Nichols:

 

Godspeed Mr. Doohan

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Godspeed…

YES! Godspeed up there Mr. Doohan!

Warp Speed Mr. Scott, clear skies ahead…

RIP Mr Scott

Dad, May the stars rise up to meet you. May the solar wind always be at your back.

Finally. RIP.

Godspead. Captain Doohan, Royal Canadian Artillery (ret)
Thank you for your service.

#5

Beautifully put, Mr. Doohan.
Glad to finally see your dad among the stars (again).

Never mind……

God bless, Mr Scott.

Second star to the right. And straight on ’til morning. God Bless, Mr. Scott.

Warp Speed, Mr. Scott. Mr. Doohan was beloved by so many.

James Doohan has finally made it to the stars – congratulations and commiserations to the Doohan family. Putting the ashes of someone so loved (and lovely) to rest must surely be one of the bitter-sweetest moments of life.

God bless.

While channel-hopping last night, I caught the news item showing the lift off of the SpaceX falcon rocket and I couldn’t help but think of Scotty and his bairns…

God bless you, Scotty. May your light shine down upon us.

Bittersweet day. They kept calling him “Scotty from Star Trek” this morning; Wish they had said “Star Trek Scotty actor James Doohan” or something. Just listening to him at conventions he was much more than Scotty (obviously).

Godspeed Mr. Doohan.

Space, the final resting place.

RIP James Doohan

“Bon Voyage, Mr. Scott.”

Ever the pioneer.

This will not be our final frontier… but, our glorious emergence as a child of the universe.

What a great remembrance for a gentleman that has meant so much for engineers the world over… I can’t help but wonder how much Mr. Doohan’s character has contributed to this launch even happening..

Proud to be a Trekkie.

Very moving.
Boldly Go, Jimmy.

Found this short interview on youtube. Shows what a decent man James Doohan was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSdLD_YodQ

I am so glad to hear this after the failed first attempt.

For the finest Engineer Starfleet ever had and to a fine person in real life…
Ad astra, res gestae per excellentiam.

Safe Journey Scotty!!

I loved the tweets for the CLASSY Trek people.

As usual…..no word from Shatner!

I consider mankind reaching into space as a miracle in our lifetime, so it’s fitting that our beloved “miracle worker” has finally made it there.

let the Journey begin anew…

Yes… so cool … into the stars finally…

Watched the TNG ep relics a few weeks ago.
What a great character and what a great man Jimmy Doohan was.
A fitting honour (he was Canadian after all)

God bless you Nichelle. God Speed Scotty.

may godspeed with you amen

In Memoriam:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air….

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.

Where never lark, or even eagle flew —

And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

– ‘High Flight’ (1941)
by
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., RCAF

#32.

Really wonderful! Thanks for sharing that!

I’m glad to see he finally made it where he wanted to be. Here’s to a successful mission for the SpaceX team.

Godspeed Jimmy Doohan and “Gordo” Cooper (of the Mercury 7), and all the best to Space X’s Falcon/Dragon! Soon the Dragon capsule will be rated for manned travel, and when that happens, it’ll change American space travel for good.

Low Earth orbit will eventually become the purview of the private sector, while NASA can be freed to get back into the business of ‘the final frontier’ again (both in robotic and manned missions). Not too dissimilar from how aviation slowly turned over from government to civilian development; with the USAF still overseeing military operations while the FAA regulated commerce and passenger flights.

This is an exciting and historic time for commercial space flight. ;-)

Requiescat in pace…

Pie Iesu Domine, Dona eo requiem.

Thanks for everything, Mr Doohan! You will not be forgotten.

What a concept.
Quite wonderful, indeed.

Starting many decades ago, James Doohan began his trek to the stars. The television broadcast signals of 1966 were powerful, so powerful they literally left the earth and have travelled outward, outward many lightyears by now.

Think of the numerous planets around stars within that ever-expanding range. With a sufficiently powerful antenna (and their own Project SETI) some aliens on a (currently) unknown world could at this very moment be watching as James Doohan portrays a proud and illustrious part of humankind’s future.

Godspeed James Doohan and best wishes to his family and many friends.

The above report reads: “On hand for the launch was James Doohan’s widow Wende and granddaughter Sarah.”

Er…. Sarah is Jimmy’s DAUGHTER. That’s why this was such a special occasion for her. So you might want to re-phrase that, laddie.

So glad the launch was a success at last. A “star” trek indeed. :-)

Mere words can sometimes seem inadequate—rest in peace mr doohan—chris i lost my dad last year–he was 92—it still hurts-i remember hearing about a letter incoln wrote to a daughter who lost her father and lincoln mentioned that the sad feeling of losing him would change with time to a sweet yet sad loving feeling and i am glad for every moment we had with him…he lived a good life–only wish all dads could be with their families as long as possible….mr doohan lived an extraordinary life inspiring many even saving one fans life…its fitting we all notice jimmy travelling in the final frontier reminding us of his talents, his humor, his wonderful family and his many fans—thanks chris for checking in with trekmovie n making us feel special sharing your feelings n love of your dad with the may fans here that also loved him—remember how excited i was when i was a young man woking for affes at mcchord n fort lewis hearing a daughter of jimmys worked with us n when jimmy would visit everybody knew about it n wished we had that chance to say hi to him also…

Went on youtube to watch Jame’s interviews. Truly a kind soul. He’s given so much and has inspired many. Thank you so much. You will be missed.

Finalli you are in space, RIP Jimmy Doohan.

Space, the final frontier, these are the new journeys of the extraordinary Mr James Doohan, may his soul live long and prosper.

Great news this finally happened- RIP James Doohan.

Space just became a much friendlier place.

# 45

Well said. ;-)

Mr. Scott, the word is given… Warp speed….

A very touching & appropriate tribute to a great man

That’s awesome! I didn’t even know his remains were going up in the launch until now. Certainly a fitting resting place for him.

FULL POWER NOW SIR!!! Bon voyage Mr. Scott! We will always love you.