Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Scotty's Ashes
May 19, 2007 3:04 PM
Just want to be on the record: They've found the rocket containing the ashes of James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty on the original Star Trek; Gordon Cooper, the Mercury astronaut; and about 200 other people whose families had arranged to have them launched into suborbital space. (You'll recall the rocket was launched in late April, but its payload was lost in the New Mexico mountains.)
UP Aerospace, which was contracted to make the launch, has posted a photo as proof HERE.
So it's all over, the families can have the ashes back, and there's plenty of embarrassment to go around.
I might have expected the company's website to be filled with public apologies. But Celestis, Inc., which organized the flight, has barely updated its homepage, and UP Aerospace offers you the chance to buy mission patches that were carried in the rocket ("Only 75 space-flown patches available!").
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If you have clear weather tonight (which counts out the northeastern U.S.), take a look after sunset at the crescent Moon in the east. That'll be Venus right next to it.
May 19, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (5)
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i saw venus. or something that looks like it. i saw a small planet looked smaller than the moon. but something seemed to be hanging in the air;very high up in the air and was suspended there for about 15-20 minutes
Posted by: ian | May 20, 2007 1:03:28 AM
Scotty left with less than orbit achieved, eh?
Well, if you demand that people believe in Darwin's theory of evolution then you are probably expressing your faith in the Monkey Way Galaxy, as well.
What if Scotty beams into the place and politely asks the public to leave him alone, to let him rest, to find another Scotty somewhere...
Posted by: Jocko | May 20, 2007 9:12:08 AM
I'd heard that the payload was lost and that the company responsible was desperately looking for it. I'm glad it was found, but what a letdown for the families who depended on the rocket!
Posted by: chuck | May 21, 2007 9:52:38 AM
I visited Celestis' website. I'm sorry, but I can't help being reminded of a 60's black comedy called, "The Loved One." It seems sincere (the website), but it's also sad, considering what happened. Now, about getting rid of nuclear waste. . .
Posted by: Andy | May 21, 2007 9:57:08 AM
Well, in the end, the families got exactly what they had payed for. The ashes successfully went up on a short suborbital flight - it's a relatively small rocket, after all. Plus they knew there was some risk involved, since the previous launch didn't get very far. It just took a little longer than expected to get the ashes back, and intact, so no real harm done there. Of course, maybe next time the recoverable section will be painted something a little more noticable than black and dark blue :)
PS: Ned, I saw Venus with the moon this weekend. Nice!
Posted by: Matt | May 21, 2007 12:17:20 PM
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