'Scotty' set for space flight - this time for real

Stephen Withers
Saturday, 28 April 2007 14:51

Science - Space

The remains of actor James Doohan - engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the original Star Trek crew - are set to be launched into space later today.

A Spaceloft SL-2 rocket will be launched from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert by UP Aerospace, carrying the remains of around 200 people including Doohan and real-life NASA Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut Gordon Cooper.

Doohan's widow, Wende Doohan, will press the button that sends the rocket on its way.

A previous attempt in September 2006 met with failure when the Spaceloft XL went out of control within 10 seconds of takeoff.

A memorial ceremony for Doohan and Cooper was held on Friday in the car park at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

Doohan is not the first member of the Star Trek family to make it into space: the remains of series creator Gene Roddenberry made the trip ten years ago.

Doohan died in July 2005, Cooper in October 2004, and Roddenberry in October 1991.