Written by MARCIA DUNN and RICK TABER

Actor William Shatner counted down Wednesday to his wildest role yet: riding a rocket into space, courtesy of “Star Trek” fan Jeff Bezos.

Best known for his role as Captain Kirk, the 90-year-old Shatner joined three other passengers for the planned launch from West Texas.

Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin, invited Shatner on the brief jaunt to the fringes of the final frontier, which will make him the oldest person in space.

It will be Blue Origin’s second passenger flight, using the same capsule and rocket that Bezos used for his own launch three months ago. The trip should last just 10 minutes, with the fully automated capsule reacing a maximum altitude of about 66 miles (106 kilometers) before parachuting back into the desert.

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson kicked off the U.S.-based space tourism boom on July 11, riding his own rocketship to space. Bezos followed nine days later aboard his own capsule. Elon Musk stayed behind as his SpaceX company launched its first private flight last month, sending a billionaire, cancer survivor and two ticket winners into orbit.

And last week, the Russians sent an actor and film director to the International Space Station for movie-making.

“We’re just at the beginning, but how miraculous that beginning is. How extraordinary it is to be part of that beginning,” Shatner said in a Blue Origin video posted on the eve of his flight. “It looks like there’s a great deal of curiosity about this fictional character, Captain Kirk, going into space. So let’s go along with it and enjoy the ride.”

Rounding out the crew: a Blue Origin vice president and two entrepreneurs who bid unsuccessfully for a seat on the previous flight with Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Blue Origin did not divulge their ticket prices.

Bezos was at the expansive launch and landing site near Van Horn, Texas, to see the four off.

 

Related Stories
‹
'Born Loving Space': UNC Senior Set To Make History as the Youngest Woman in Outer Space
UNC senior Karsen Kitchen is set to make history as the youngest woman to travel to outer space as part of an upcoming space tourism flight.
After Delay, Blue Origin Flight Set To Take off March 31 With New Passenger
UPDATE: High winds forecasted on Tuesday, March 29, have led Blue Origin to delay its NS-20 launch for a second time. Now, the rocket and civilian passengers are expected to take off on Thursday, March 31. #NS20 is now scheduled for launch on Thursday, March 31. #NewShepard Mission Operations has successfully completed Flight Readiness Review […]
UNC Professor Among Next Travelers to Space on Blue Origin Flight
UPDATE: The Blue Origin flight Jim Kitchen is set to participate in has been delayed from March 23 to March 29. After traveling to all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations, UNC professor and Chapel Hill entrepreneur Jim Kitchen is set to now achieve another lifelong dream. Blue Origin, a commercial space flight company […]
Artemis II Breaks Apollo 13’s Distance Record With Daring Moon Flyby That Included a Solar Eclipse
After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night.
On Air Today: Rising UNC Senior and Upcoming Blue Origin Crew Member Karsen Kitchen
Rising UNC Senior and Upcoming Blue Origin Crew Member Karsen Kitchen spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, August 1. She discussed her lifelong love of space, and her dream of working in the space industry. She also shared some of the items she plans on taking with her on the trip, some of the training activities she's done to prepare, and what she's looking forward to. She discussed how few women have been to space, what she plans to do afterword, and more.
Rising UNC Senior Among Crew Announced for Future Blue Origin Space Flight
Karsen Kitchen, a member of UNC's Class of 2025, is one of the six crew members announced for Blue Origin's next flight to the edge of space.
NASA’s Mightiest Moon Rocket Lifts off 50 Years After Apollo
Written by MARCIA DUNN NASA’s new moon rocket blasted off on its debut flight with three test dummies aboard Wednesday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to putting astronauts back on the lunar surface for the first time since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. If all goes well during the […]
'Very Emotional': UNC Professor Recaps Experience Going To Space
One of the 97.9 The Hill Co-owners recently left our stratosphere. Jim Kitchen, a UNC professor and Chapel Hill entrepreneur, had a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to space on a Blue Origin flight. Kitchen spoke with 97.9 The Hill about the flight and what it meant to him.
Here's How to Watch Blue Origin's Flight with UNC Prof. Jim Kitchen
UPDATE: The NS-20 flight successfully took flight and landed shortly after 10:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday. The crew of the New Shepard 20 space flight has had to wait more than a week for the best weather conditions to launch into the Earth’s atmosphere. But for those who have waited decades for the chance to […]
On Air Today: Scott Madry
UNC professor and former director of the Global Institute of Space Scott Madry joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Friday, August 6. He shares details on a recent donation to the International Astronautical Federation following the Blue Origins rocket launch. Plus: what do private space flights mean for the future of exploration and travel?
›