CAPTAIN’S LOG: ‘IT WAS FAR OUT’
Star Trek actor William Shatner became a real space traveller on Blue Origin’s second crewed mission on Wednesday, calling it the most profound experience of his life.
“It was unbelievable,” said the 90year-old Canadian, known to the sci-fi show’s legion of “Trekkies” as the daring Captain James T. Kirk, a role he first played more than half a century ago.
He was joined on the 11-minute journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere and back again by three others: Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen of Australia, and Glen de Vries of Medidata Solutions.
A New Shepard rocket took off from the company’s West Texas base, soaring to 106km above sea level.
Founder Jeff Bezos was on hand to greet the crew as they climbed out of the capsule, which parachute-landed in desert. The crew was showered with applause and champagne.
Like the almost 600 astronauts who have gone before him, Shatner marvelled at the experience of weightlessness and the stunning view of our world from space.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. I’m so filled with emotion about what just happened,” he said, moved to tears. “What you’re looking down on is mother Earth, and it needs protecting.”
The mission was a replay of the company’s maiden human flight in July, which included Mr Bezos and was seen as a breakthrough moment for the nascent space tourism sector.
This time around, Shatner became the oldest-ever astronaut.