Captain Kirk to go to the edge of space
William Shatner will set a record
Please take a moment to subscribe. Full Throttle will be sent to your email inbox twice a week. It's free and you don't need a facebook account. Follow me on your favorite social platform: Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
(Cover Photo Credit: Paramount)
October 6, 2021
Have you seen this lead line in the past couple days? He will “boldly go” where only a few have gone before.
Known for the iconic role of Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, William Shatner is getting a ride on a Blue Origin rocket next week. He’s going to space, at least the edge of space, and will experience a few minutes of weightlessness. The actor will become the oldest person to get to space, and the second actor. A Russian actress beat him for that record by a week. “I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle,” Shatner is quoted by Blue Origin.
Announced on Twitter and followed up with a national news appearance by Shatner, this appears to be a good public relations move for Jeff Bezos’ company. Some good news after an essay was made public alleging toxic working conditions at the space company.
NEW DETAILS
We’ve learned a couple additional tidbits about Shatner’s trip. It was Blue Origin’s idea. Shatner says Blue Origin called and invited him to join the flight. It will be the company’s second launch carrying human cargo.
(Credit: Today Show/NBC)
Shatner told the Today Show that he is, “loving the opportunity to go.” The night before his TV appearance he says he sat outside and enjoyed an electrical storm near his Los Angeles home. He says he will take in the earth and the universe similarly on his Blue Origin ride.
WHO IS PAYING?
With Blue Origin reaching out to Shatner, it appears the company is providing the ride for free. Reports suggest that there will be only two paying customers, Dr. Chris Boshuizen, co-founder of a satellite company and Glen de Vries a clinical research software company co-founder. The fourth passenger is Audrey Powers, the VP of Mission and Flight Operations at Blue Origin.
(Credit: IMDb)
Star Trek, which lasted only three seasons in the late 60s, has lived on through movies and new TV shows with far-reaching cultural impacts. How many of us learned to split our four fingers into a “V” and recite, “live long and prosper,” or have blurted out, “Scotty, beam me up?” Books and numerous pieces have looked at the long reach of the short-lived show.
THE NASA CONNECTION
(Credit: NASA)
It’s a TV series that has become intertwined with the US space program. A generation or two of Trekkies works at NASA. One of the shuttle orbiters was named “Enterprise” after a campaign by fans of the show.
Shatner provides a reading of winning message sent with Voyager probe in May 2017. (Credit: NASA)
Shatner and several of his fellow cast members have embraced requests to work with NASA on projects. Shatner provided a wake-up call for a Discovery crew, read a message broadcast by a probe into deep space, and had a chance to talk to an astronaut on the International Space station.
Shatner speaks with astronaut Chris Hadfield in February 2013. (Credit: NASA)
PREPARING FOR FLIGHT
When asked if he’s done anything special to prepare for his flight, Shatner told Today, “I had a piece of apple pie.” When asked if he is excited, scared, or having second thoughts he said, “all of those things.”
He could reach back to a speech in the Star Trek season three episode “Return to Tomorrow.” Captain Kirk is explaining a risky move to his executive staff including Dr. McCoy. “Risk, risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about.”
(Random observation of that clip. No wonder Jason Alexander (George Costanza on Seinfeld) does such a good impression of Shatner (:50 in). Listen to the rhythm.)