Space Date Set For Scotty's Ashes

Star Trek actor James Doohan, who played the engineer Scotty in the original TV series, will now have his remains blasted into space in October.

The actor's ashes were supposed to be sent into orbit last year, but the flight was delayed as tests were carried out on the rocket.

Doohan died of Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia in July 2005, aged 85.

His family will hold a service on the day of the rocket's launch for fans to pay tribute to him.

The actor's ashes will be sent into space along with the remains of around 100 other people, including astronaut Gordon Cooper, who first went to space in 1963.

After a short flight, the rocket will return to Earth, with a subsequent launch putting Doohan's remains into orbit in December or January.

They will remain there for several years, after which they will drop back towards Earth, burning up on re-entry.

'Final wish'

In a letter to fans last year, Doohan's widow, Wende, said the actor would have "given almost anything to be able to actually go into space".

"He finally gets his wish, I can't think of a more fitting send-off than having some of his fans attend this, his final journey," she said.

The flights have been arranged by Texas company Space Services, which previously sent the ashes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and 1960s drug guru Timothy Leary into space.

Doohan's Star Trek character Scotty manned the Starship Enterprise with Captain James T Kirk, played by Shatner, and Mr Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy.

The original crew lasted for three series, starting in 1966, before the show was axed.

However, they reunited for seven feature films between 1979 and 1991.

Canadian-born Doohan had been a successful character actor on radio and TV before landing the role in the pilot Star Trek episode.

He quickly became typecast as the Scottish space engineer, finding it difficult to get other roles, but he learned to embrace his place in sci-fi history.

His final public appearance was in October 2004 when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

http://www.bbc.co.uk