“Star Trek” actor William Shatner flew to space Wednesday onboard Blue Origin’s second crewed launch. Shatner, accompanied by three other crew members, joked during a brief coining ceremony before riding to the spacecraft.
“Heads we go, tails we don’t,” said Shatner, who played the iconic Captain Kirk in the TV and film franchise.
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, diverting myself in now & then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.? pic.twitter.com/ZY2Ka8ij7z
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 13, 2021
The 11-minute spaceflight blasted off at 10:50 a.m. EST, carrying Shatner, Vice President of New Shepard Audrey Powers, and customers Dr. Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.
With the launch, Shatner, 90, becomes the oldest person to travel to space. The record was recently set during Blue Origin’s first crewed mission by 82-year-old Wally Funk.
“This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” Shatner said shortly before touchdown.
Capsule touchdown! Welcome home to the crew of #NS18!
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) October 13, 2021
The mission, NS-18, is part of Blue Origin’s goal to reduce the cost of commercial space travel. New Shepard’s reusable booster rocket, Blue Engine-3, successfully landed back at Launch Site One in West Texas. New Shepard flew completely autonomously, as no pilots were onboard.
Before liftoff, the crew was chauffeured to the spacecraft by Jeff Bezos, who flew on New Shepard’s previous mission, NS-17.
The crew carried with them hundreds of postcards sent from well-wishers around the country that will receive a special “Flown to Space” stamp.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience,” Shatner told Bezos.
