Jane Q. Public writes "According to Ars Technica, the ashes of James Doohan, who played "Scotty" in the original 'Star Trek' series and several movies, were aboard the SpaceX III launch and were lost when the launch vehicle failed." Which totally wouldn't have happened if Scotty was the engineer.
The full line was "I cannae change the laws of physics... I've got to have 30 minutes"...
I always thought it would have been funny if the line had been used in "Who Mourns for Adonsis" with Scotty in bed with Lt. Palamas, responding to her question "That was great Scotty, ready for another go?"
Nah. It's pretty obvious that William Shatner snuck in and stole them, then sabotaged the flight to cover his tracks. The poor guy. So broke he had to resort to doing crummy tv commercials and now this:(
While this may be the geek in me, I would be honored if my ashes were sent up. Even if the vessel carrying them did not make it all the way up. Least this way my ashes are scattered in the most efficient way possible if/when the rocket goes Kaboom.
...
Sides with any luck some of my ashes will have drifted down and ended up in someone's soup. Eat me!
Philosophical question: Why is this kind of symbolism important to many of the same people who scoff at anything superstitious? Is this somehow more valid?
In a strange way, I see it as a fitting end to Mr. Doohan's physical form. He inspired countless young people to pursue careers in the sciences, and then, even after leaving this world, continues to inspire.
I know that the body is not the person, and I would like to think that his spirit lives on. At least in this way he can be thought of as being everywhere. Scotty was a fictional character, but through that character James Doohan inspired so many people to believe in themselves.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Doohan. You will be missed, but never forgotten.
It is absolutely depressing to me that everyone shows some concern over the ashes of an ACTOR, but ignores the fact that a TRUE SPACE HERO (Gordo Cooper), one of the Mercury 7, was onboard..... yikes.
I think you make a valid point. Gordo Cooper is certainly worthy of mention, if someone is going to cover this story.
But "absolutely depressing"? I don't come away with that, myself. Star Trek was a HUGELY popular TV show, that thrived against all odds at the time. For a while there, props were literally being created from stuff dug out of garbage dumpsters, due to a lack of funds. Its creator had a real vision and message of hope to express. It wasn't just another crappy sit-com cranked out to make a buck or two. It,arguably, did more to spark people's imaginations about the possibilities for space travel than anything else at the time. I can't prove it, but I sure would't be at all surprised to find that many of NASA's current and former employees would list Star Trek as one of their inspirations growing up.
This is the second time James Doohan's ashes have been lost by a spacecraft. The first was mentioned on Slashdot http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/10/2249214 [slashdot.org] about a year go. His remains were lost after a sub-orbital craft landed in an inaccessible area in New Mexico. Last time his remains were eventually retrieved. Third times a charm?
The average weight of cremated remains for an adult male is six pounds according to Wikipedia, but weight is so limited in these rocket launches that they're only sending an ounce or two of the remains each time.
There's a huge misconception most people seem to have about this story, so I figured I'd repost my comment [slashdot.org] from the previous SpaceX story:
It's worth noting though that Celestis, the company which offers the service for placing a person's cremated remains on a space launch, only uses a tiny portion of the ashes on a particular launch. From their FAQ:
We offer the launch of a symbolic portion of the cremated remains as a memorial service, not final disposition of all the remains, because although dramatic progress is being made by entrepreneurs in reducing launch costs, spaceflight is still quite expensive. By launching a portion we can offer an affordable service, and also can provide performance assurance.
We will arrange for final disposition of the balance of the cremated remains through a sea scattering service, should you so desire.
Space launches are challenging. What if the orbit is not achieved?
In the event that the Celestis Earth Orbit Service spacecraft does not achieve orbit, we will -- at no additional cost -- place a second sample of the cremated remains aboard our next scheduled mission.
Apparently they forgot to put the ashes of an anonymous crew member in there as well. Everyone knows they are the first to go giving just enough time for the recurring members to get away.
I guess it's true.... (Score:5, Funny)
He really couldn't bend the laws of physics after all =\
Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:4, Funny)
Laws of physics, laws of physics!
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It's worse than that (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:It's worse than that (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:It's worse than that (Score:4, Funny)
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Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:5, Funny)
Biology is just applied chemistry, which is really just applied physics.
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Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:4, Funny)
Thus spoke the Mathematician.
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Re:I guess it's true.... (Score:5, Funny)
"Body odor". Thus spoke the others.
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Sooo...? (Score:5, Funny)
Do they get a refund?
That was my first thought when I heard about the ashes.
He warned 'em (Score:5, Funny)
Talk about overkill... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Talk about overkill... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Talk about overkill... (Score:5, Funny)
They'd have to be able to get in to orbit first and it would seem that is what is giving them trouble.
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Re:Talk about overkill... (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, he did get his ashes scattered.
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Re:Talk about overkill... (Score:4, Funny)
And all along it was Bones who was worried about having his molecules scattered across space..
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Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Nah. It's pretty obvious that William Shatner snuck in and stole them, then sabotaged the flight to cover his tracks. The poor guy. So broke he had to resort to doing crummy tv commercials and now this :(
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Not enough power (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Not enough power (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Not enough power (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Not enough power (Score:5, Funny)
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Scotty (Score:5, Funny)
"Scotty! Do! something! Now!"
"He can't."
"Why? Can't? He?"
"He's dead, Jim."
Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Informative)
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/10/2249214 [slashdot.org]
Always multiply your estimates by a factor of 4. Seriously, the advice has done me wonders. People really do think that you're a miracle worker.
Re:Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Funny)
A good engineer always has a backup. Including of their own ashes.
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Re:Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Informative)
Sadly, I think they were recovered [engadget.com]...Which makes this the SECOND time the launch has failed.
Who wants to lay odds on them finding the little charred capsule of ashes and making a third go of it?
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Re:Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Informative)
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Re:Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Insightful)
Since they're already the products of combustion, it's pretty likely the ashes survived. Unfortunately, they'd probably be pretty tough to find.
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Re:Turning in his Somewhat Charred Grave (Score:5, Funny)
"The third rocket crash landed, then blew up. But the *fourth* rocket...stayed up!"
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Re: (Score:3)
wouldn't it be better to send a teaspoon of your DNA on each space-bound vessel you can find. I mean you never know...
I wold be honored none the less (Score:5, Interesting)
Sides with any luck some of my ashes will have drifted down and ended up in someone's soup. Eat me!
Nah. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I wold be honored none the less (Score:5, Interesting)
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KHANN!!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Dammit! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm a engineer, Jim, not a fertilizer!
Rest in Peace, Mr. Doohan (Score:5, Insightful)
In a strange way, I see it as a fitting end to Mr. Doohan's physical form. He inspired countless young people to pursue careers in the sciences, and then, even after leaving this world, continues to inspire.
I know that the body is not the person, and I would like to think that his spirit lives on. At least in this way he can be thought of as being everywhere. Scotty was a fictional character, but through that character James Doohan inspired so many people to believe in themselves.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Doohan. You will be missed, but never forgotten.
1969 called... (Score:5, Funny)
Hey today's space companies, NASA called from 1969 and said you suck!
Gordon "Gordo" Cooper (Score:5, Insightful)
It is absolutely depressing to me that everyone shows some concern over the ashes of an ACTOR, but ignores the fact that a TRUE SPACE HERO (Gordo Cooper), one of the Mercury 7, was onboard. .... yikes.
Re:Gordon "Gordo" Cooper (Score:4, Insightful)
I think you make a valid point. Gordo Cooper is certainly worthy of mention, if someone is going to cover this story.
But "absolutely depressing"? I don't come away with that, myself. Star Trek was a HUGELY popular TV show, that thrived against all odds at the time. For a while there, props were literally being created from stuff dug out of garbage dumpsters, due to a lack of funds. Its creator had a real vision and message of hope to express. It wasn't just another crappy sit-com cranked out to make a buck or two. It,arguably, did more to spark people's imaginations about the possibilities for space travel than anything else at the time. I can't prove it, but I sure would't be at all surprised to find that many of NASA's current and former employees would list Star Trek as one of their inspirations growing up.
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Second Time (Score:3, Interesting)
They wanted to save him but - (Score:3, Insightful)
"He'll die in there!"
"Elon! He's dead already.."
James Doohan - RIP
Only 94 more tries left... (Score:5, Funny)
The average weight of cremated remains for an adult male is six pounds according to Wikipedia, but weight is so limited in these rocket launches that they're only sending an ounce or two of the remains each time.
So there's plenty more Scotty to go around.
G.
NOT Scotty's "Final Mission" (Score:5, Informative)
There's a huge misconception most people seem to have about this story, so I figured I'd repost my comment [slashdot.org] from the previous SpaceX story:
It's worth noting though that Celestis, the company which offers the service for placing a person's cremated remains on a space launch, only uses a tiny portion of the ashes on a particular launch. From their FAQ:
http://www.memorialspaceflights.com/faq.asp [memorialspaceflights.com]
Why launch only a symbolic portion?
We offer the launch of a symbolic portion of the cremated remains as a memorial service, not final disposition of all the remains, because although dramatic progress is being made by entrepreneurs in reducing launch costs, spaceflight is still quite expensive. By launching a portion we can offer an affordable service, and also can provide performance assurance.
We will arrange for final disposition of the balance of the cremated remains through a sea scattering service, should you so desire.
Space launches are challenging. What if the orbit is not achieved?
In the event that the Celestis Earth Orbit Service spacecraft does not achieve orbit, we will -- at no additional cost -- place a second sample of the cremated remains aboard our next scheduled mission.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Quite right. Scotty needs someone to tell him he has 4 hours for an 8 hour job so he can fix it in 2.
Re:The captain? (Score:5, Funny)
Apparently they forgot to put the ashes of an anonymous crew member in there as well. Everyone knows they are the first to go giving just enough time for the recurring members to get away.
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Re:The captain? (Score:5, Funny)
That's wessel (as in nuclear), you insensitive clod!
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Re:Old News? (Score:5, Informative)
This is the SECOND time its happened. More like deja vu than old news...Even reality has a dupe now and then.
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Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Fucking /. hypocrits (Score:4, Funny)
What is an anti-rocketry, SUV-driving NASCAR redneck doing here? Oh trolling, never mind.
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