VAN HORN, TEXAS —
Actor William Shatner counted down Wednesday to his wildest function but: using a rocket into area, courtesy of “Star Trek” fan Jeff Bezos.
Finest recognized for his function as Captain Kirk, the 90-year-old Shatner joined three different passengers for the deliberate launch from West Texas.
Bezos’ area journey firm, Blue Origin, invited Shatner on the temporary jaunt to the fringes of the ultimate frontier, which can make him the oldest individual in area.
It will likely be Blue Origin’s second passenger flight, utilizing the identical capsule and rocket that Bezos used for his personal launch three months in the past. The journey ought to final simply 10 minutes, with the absolutely automated capsule reacing a most altitude of about 66 miles (106 kilometers) earlier than parachuting again into the desert.
Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson kicked off the U.S.-based area tourism growth on July 11, using his personal rocketship to area. Bezos adopted 9 days later aboard his personal capsule. Elon Musk stayed behind as his SpaceX firm launched its first non-public flight final month, sending a billionaire, most cancers survivor and two ticket winners into orbit.
And final week, the Russians despatched an actor and movie director to the Worldwide House Station for movie-making.
“We’re simply originally, however how miraculous that starting is. How extraordinary it’s to be a part of that starting,” Shatner stated in a Blue Origin video posted on the eve of his flight. “It appears to be like like there’s an excessive amount of curiosity about this fictional character, Captain Kirk, going into area. So let’s go together with it and benefit from the journey.”
Rounding out the crew: a Blue Origin vp and two entrepreneurs who bid unsuccessfully for a seat on the earlier flight with Bezos, the founding father of Amazon. Blue Origin didn’t expose their ticket costs.
Bezos was on the expansive launch and touchdown web site close to Van Horn, Texas, to see the 4 off.
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Dunn reported from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Schooling. The AP is solely liable for all content material.
