Gene Roddenberry, wife to spend eternity in space (ashes going via "memorial spacefilght")

[underpants]

Jan 26, 2009

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The creator of "Star Trek" and his wife will spend eternity together in space. Celestis Inc., a company that specializes in "memorial spaceflights," said Monday that it will ship the remains of Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry into space next year.

The couple's cremated remains will be sealed into specially made capsules designed to withstand the rigors of space travel. A rocket-launched spacecraft will carry the capsules, along with digitized tributes from fans. The Roddenberrys' remains — and the spacecraft — will travel ever deeper into space and will not return to earth, company spokeswoman Susan Schonfeld said.

After Gene Roddenberry died in 1991, his wife commissioned Celestis to launch a part of his remains into space in 1997. She died Dec. 18, 2008.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hU9KEeurjVnYpVxjRPoQdSmJFIsQD95V7LH00

[brooklynite]

1. Not sure its eternity...

I think the capsules remain in orbit and eventually burn up on re-entry after 10 years or so. Still, nice symbolism.

[Auggie]

2. "Will not return to earth" -- boldly going, where no one has gone before...

[malaise]

3. What a great business venture

Who will ever know where any capsules went. Bravo Celestis Inc.!!!!

[Blue_Tires]

4. wow..i didn't know Majel died...

still a touching gesture

[Peace Patriot]

5. Aw, heck! Majel Barrett died in December! I didn't know this. She was one great lady.

And, if the truth were known, I think she pretty much WAS Star Trek. She kept that old drunk alive and dreaming--through the incomparable first five seasons of Star Trek's rebirth in The Next Generation, and all the best Star Trek movies with the First Generation crew. And she was probably doing it--holding everything together--all through the first series as well. Totally "unsung hero." The "voice of the Enterprise" and one of its finer comedy characters (as Troi's mother--when Majel got on camera in that role, you suddenly understood why you hated Troi, and you hated her a bit less because she had such a WONDERFUL mother!).

Rest in peace, Majel--among the stars! And go where NO ONE has ever gone before!