William Shatner is heading into space – and this time he’s not playing.
The 90-year-old actor, best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the original “Star Trek” TV series and movie franchise, will launch into orbit on October 12 as part of Jeff Bezos civil space program, Blue Origin.
The Blue Origin program confirmed the celebrity’s upcoming space launch in an October 4 tweet.
“Two amazing and inspiring people will join the # NS18 team,” the tweet read. “Actor @WilliamShatner and Audrey Powers @AudreyKPowers, Vice President of Mission and Flight Operations at Blue Origin.”
Two amazing and inspiring people will join the # NS18 crew. Actor @WilliamShatner and Audrey Powers, Vice President of Missions and Flight Operations at Blue Origin @AudreyKPowers. pic.twitter.com/xqI9nw1KX8
– Blue origin (@blueorigin) October 4, 2021
Shatner, who is an active Twitter user, was quick to share his enthusiasm for his upcoming space out adventure, calling himself a “rocket man”.
So now I can say something. Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a “rocket man!” ”
https://t.co/B2jFeXrr6L
– William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 4, 2021
In a statement from Blue Origin, Shatner discussed the opportunity to make his science fictional world no longer a reality.
“I’ve been hearing about space for a long time now” he said in the statement. “I take this opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle.”
Shatner will become the oldest person to fly in space when he and the rest of the New Shepard rocket crew take off at 9:30 a.m. EDT on October 12.
Back on July 20, Mary “Wally” Funk, 82 became the oldest person in to travel in space as part of Blue Origin’s first launch. She surpassed the record set by astronaut John Glenn, 77, on his last mission.
The crew for this flight includes Shatner and Powers, as well as Chris Boshuizen, former NASA engineer and co-founder of Planet Labs, and Glen de Vries, vice president of life and health sciences at Dassault Systèmes and co-founder of Medidata Solutions . Their trip is expected to take 11 minutes, according to Yahoo.
What does Shatner think of his journey into the unknown?
He told NBC’s “Today” that while he was feeling a little nervous, he was mostly eager to experience “the enormity of the universe.”
Star Trek actor @WilliamShatner turns science fiction into reality! The 90-year-old star will fly into space on a @originbleu rocket next week. He joins us live to talk about his exciting mission. pic.twitter.com/WuyAtAY6Mp
– 3rd hour of TODAY (@ 3rdHourTODAY) October 5, 2021
“We are talking about space and the conditions of weightlessness, the enormity of the universe and the absolute jewel of a little thing that we call Earth in comparison” Shatner said “Today”. “I’m going to feel it with the same enormity that I felt that lightning storm last night.”
BlueOrigin.com will broadcast the launch live from 90 minutes before takeoff on October 12.
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