LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - The ashes of James Doohan, the Canadian-born actor who played chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the original "Star Trek" TV series, have been loaded into a rocket that is set to launch in New Mexico later this month.
The remains of Doohan, Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and some 200 others were loaded into the rocket Friday by Charles Chafer, chief executive of Celestis, a Texas company that contracts with rocket firms to send cremated remains into space. "And we're ready to go," Chafer said after inserting the silver canister.
Jerry Larson, president of Connecticut-based UP Aerospace Inc.
, said the rocket will be launched April 28.
Families paid US$495 to have a few grams of their loved one's ashes placed on the rocket.
Chafer said he is aware of the dedication of "Star Trek" fans.
"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.
Doohan died in July 2005 at age 85. He was born in Vancouver and raised in Sarnia, Ont.
The remains of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry were blasted into space in 1997.
Two people were killed in a shooting Monday morning at the University of Washington's architecture building, a fire department spokeswoman said. Iran will no longer broadcast videos of British sailors because of what it calls "positive changes" in Britain's negotiating stance. Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and two cabinet colleagues arrived in Afghanistan Monday on a surprise visit. An arrest warrant has been issued for former advertising executive Jean Lafleur, who is facing fraud charges in relation to the sponsorship scandal. An annual global survey has ranked Vancouver as the third most desirable place to live in the world. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary also cracked the top 25 cities.
A 7-year-old girl fell partway down a manhole in Ottawa Saturday after vandals removed the metal cover and put an election sign over the opening. Changes are needed in the diagnosis and treatment of millions of HIV-infected children, the American Academy of Pediatrics said Monday. The standard advice for how much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy may need to change, according to a rigorous and provocative study suggesting that even accepted weight gains may raise the risk of having an overweight toddler. Alberta becomes the first province to test newborns for cystic fibrosis, as evidence shows early detection of the genetic disease can lead to better health and quality of life. Nelly Furtado proved to be Canada's musical sweetheart on the weekend, sweeping the 36th annual Juno Awards in all five categories for which she was nominated. The Canadian Television Fund will spent $265 million on production of Canadian programming over the next 12 months, the CTF has announced. The famed Berlin State Opera House is scheduled to undergo a major renovation beginning in 2010, officials announced Monday. The X Prize Foundation, which spurred innovation by offering $10 million US for the first privately-built spacecraft, plans to offer millions for the first practical car that increases mileage five-fold.
British researchers have grown a disc of heart valve tissue from stem cells, raising hopes that such tissue could be used in transplants in as little as three years, a British newspaper said. EMI Group has agreed to take the digital locks off songs it sells through the Apple iTunes store, the record producer announced in London Monday. Another pet food company has added its name to the pet food recall list, out of fear that contaminated wheat gluten may have tainted its products. The average price of a resale home in Canada hit a record high in February, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Monday. The Consumers' Association of Canada is seeking a judicial inquiry into the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, saying consumers have a right to know about the group's operations and practices.
News RSS