BEZOS’ BLUE ORIGIN TO SEND CAPTAIN KIRK INTO SPACE

Tue 05 October 2021:

Star Trek actor William Shatner will join three people — two of whom are paying customers — inside a capsule on October 12th, according to Jeff Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin.

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is a major fan of the sci-fi series and even appeared in the 2016 film Star Trek Beyond as a high-ranking alien.

Shatner was invited to fly as a guest of his rocket firm.

Shatner’s flight will last just 10 minutes and reach no higher than about 106 kilometres before his capsule parachutes back to the desert floor, not far from where it took off.

So now I can say something. Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a “rocket man!” 😝🤣 https://t.co/B2jFeXrr6L

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 4, 2021

Shatner will become the oldest person to go to space.

The capsules from Blue Origin is entirely automated, but passengers must pass medical exams and be able to climb flights of steps at the launch tower to get to the capsule – or out of it in an emergency.

Blue Origin will be launching a crew for the second time.

“I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle,” Shatner said in a statement.

In the emerging and controversial space tourism market, Blue Origin and its New Shepard rocket is in competition with SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, and Virgin Galactic, owned by Richard Branson.

In an interview with NBC News in July, Shatner dismissed criticisms of billionaires using their fortunes to go on “joyrides” in space, saying: “It’s their money. They can do what they want with it.”

From 1966 until 1969, Shatner played the commander of the USS Starship Enterprise for three seasons. He also directed one of the seven films in which he played Captain James T Kirk.

He is currently the host and executive producer of The UnXplained, a History Channel show.

Starting with Shatner is a former NASA engineer who co-founded a nanosatellite company and founder of a clinical research software company. The two took part in the auction for a first-class seat. Blue Origin isn’t disclosing any other ticket pricing, but one seat cost $28 million.

Blue Origin’s vice-president of mission and flight operations, who previously worked for NASA as a space station flight controller, will take the fourth seat on the journey.

Shatner, like the others, met all of Blue Origin’s health and physical standards, according to a company spokesman.

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