Space & Astronomy

Shatner space trip confirmed for October 12th

By T.K. Randall
October 5, 2021

Image: William Shatner
Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (adapted) The legendary Star Trek actor, whose on-screen character is certainly no stranger to the final frontier, will be venturing into the heavens aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on October 12th.

While initial rumors of the trip had begun to surface last week, both Blue Origin and Shatner himself have now officially confirmed that the trip will be going ahead.

If everything goes to plan, Shatner - 90 - will be the oldest person ever to fly into space.

"I've heard about space for a long time now. I'm taking the opportunity to see it for myself," he said."What a miracle."

The October 12th flight - the second by Blue Origin to carry passengers - will see Shatner, along with three others - a former NASA engineer, a clinical research entrepreneur and a Blue Origin executive - lift off from Texas and achieve an altitude of over 100km.

Like the previous flight, which carried Jeff Bezos himself, the trip will last only around 10 minutes.

Rumors of Shatner venturing into space have been around for years. Back in 2011, he reportedly turned down a chance to fly aboard Virgin Galactic because he'd have to pay for it himself.

"[Richard Branson] wanted me to go up and pay for it and I said: 'Hey, you pay me and I'll go up. I'll risk my life for a large sum of money.' But he didn't pick me up on my offer," he said at the time.


Source: BBC News

Tags: William Shatner, Blue Origin