It doesn’t really matter who you are, chances are you’re aware of the existence of William Shatner. Starfleet’s Captain James Tiberius Kirk is almost universally recognised and, with the rest of the Star Trek cast, is mentally linked in the greater consciousness with space exploration. Well, the 90-year-old Shatner is due to actually get out to space a little later this month.
Shatner is due to take a flight on one of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rockets, specifically NS-18, on 12 October, along with Blue Origin’s Audrey Powers
Let William Shatner have this
If anyone deserves to travel to the edge of space (or actual space, depending on how specific you are), it’s William Shatner, but the same case can be made for Blue Origin’s Powers. She is an engineer, lawyer, former NASA flight controller and is currently in charge of the company’s New Shepard flight operations, vehicle maintenance, and launch, landing, and ground support infrastructure.
Shatner said, “I’ve heard about space for a long time now. I’m taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle.” Powers added, “I’m so proud and humbled to fly on behalf of Team Blue, and I’m excited to continue writing Blue’s human spaceflight history.”
The former Star Trek star will, with 12 October’s launch past the Kármán Line, become the oldest person to undertake the trip into space. Assuming all goes well, it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.