Remains Of Star Trek Actor, Mercury 7 astronaut, 200 Others, To Take Flight April 28

Samples of the cremated remains of Star Trek's James "Scotty" Doohan, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper, and 200 others are packed and ready to their April 28 flight aboard UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL rocket for a flight into suborbit.

This, according to Celestis, a subsidiary of the Houston, TX-based Space Services Inc.,that specializes in sending cremated remains into space, reports the Associated Press.

Space Services is a commercial venture that charges $495 to send a sample of a person's ashes into suborbital space. Capsules containing the ashes are then retrieved, mounted on plaques and returned to relatives.

The remains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry were sent into space during the first launch of UP Aerospace's Spaceport America back in 1997.

Doohan died in 2005 at age 85. Astronaut Gordon Cooper, who first went into space in 1963, died in 2004 at age 77.

The company had originally planned to blast Doohan's remains into space two years ago, but the flight was delayed by tests and a misfire during a practice launch last year.

Chales Chafer, chef executive of Celestis, a company that contracts with rocket firms to send cremated remains into space, offers it services for $495. According to Chafer, his company's Earth Rise Service is an affordable tribute for a loved one.

"I happened to be in Florida and I saw it on CNN and I thought it would be great if we could contact the family and ask the if he wanted to be on board," recalled Chafer. "Turns out, it was in Mr. Doohan's will and the way he put it is he wanted to join his buddy, Gene Roddenberry. Before I had a chance to pick up the phone, he was here and registered."

More than 11,000 messages of well being and condolence for Doohan have been placed on a CD and were placed in the canister with the remains.

Aware of the dedication of Star Trek fans, Chafer said efforts will be made to accommodate those who come to the launch.

"There's no doubt that we'll find a way to accommodate fans who travel here and want to be part of that experience," he said.

* Although the Canadian-born actor inspired the catchphrase "Beam me up, Scotty," it was never spoken on the television show.

FMI: www.upaerospace.com, www.memorialspaceflights.com, www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TOS/cast/69073.html