Today in New Mexico the ashes of Jimmy Doohan, along with those of Mercury astronaut Gordo Cooper, were born aloft a private rocket into the reaches of space. What a fitting tribute to men for whom space exploration meant so much, for men who in their own ways made our dreams of touching the stars a little closer to reality.
Earlier this month I had the privilege of interviewing Susan Schonfeld with Celestis, the company responsible for today's launch. Click the cassette to listen.
I've always found the notion of spending eternity in orbit appealing as this excerpt from a 2004 blog entry "What We Leave Behind" illustrates:
With the entry of private firms into the space race, "They" predict affordable space tourism within our lifetimes. Coupled with the prospects of the 150-year-old pill, we are just as likely to die on the eighteenth hole of moon-golf as to keel over on the crapper. Either way, I want my remains orbited, just like in that old Roddy McDowell flick, "The Loved One." And why not? The cost of launching a small payload into orbit is bound to drop into every-man territory once UPS has a rocket going up every Thursday.
I have it all planned out. To make the proposition as economical as possible, I want to be freeze-dried and broken down into my chemical constituents. A handful of Tehuti-crystals shouldn't weigh much and can easily be packed into a replica Sputnik then launched into perpetual orbit above the Earth.
I will join the rest of the space-junk, tracked by NORAD, NASA and amateur astronomy clubs the world over. Think of the comfort my friends and loved ones will take in knowing that I am ever overhead.
On clear summer nights perhaps they will be able to track my path across the sky with the naked eye. Think of the peace it will bring them to tune into my frequency, Kenneth, and listen in wonder to the eternal pinging of my telemetry. Now that's what I call a spirit in the sky.
Tehuti! Sign me up. My bags are pack but my flight is being delayed because I have a few more errands to run before I catch my flight to deep space. Who knows... I might even run across some advance civilization out there that will take my few grams dust and re-hydrate me. Make me better, stronger, faster than before. Make me into the “Pappa Bear”!
Posted by: Bear | April 30, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Final Farewell to an Iconic personality; salute! Wow what a way to go, 'eh?
Posted by: Falconmyst | April 30, 2007 at 09:01 AM
So...you claim to be a space enthusiast? Well...with the launching of such impressive remains to the final frontier, I am curious if you will be attending the 26th International Space Development Conference? I hear it is going to be just a stone's throw away from you in Big D. May 25-May 28 2007.
http://isdc.nss.org/2007/
Seems like this would be right up old Tehuti's ally. Perhaps the gauntlet should be thrown down so that your faithful readers and listeners can get a "Tehuti perspective" scoop....
I'll be waiting on the edge of my seat.....
Posted by: Major Tom | May 08, 2007 at 11:02 AM