Plans to rocket Doohan's ashes delayed

VANDENBURG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The space launch of "Star Trek's" James "Scotty" Doohan's ashes has been put on hold, it was reported Thursday.

Doohan died in July at age 85 and his remains were to be aboard a rocket carrying 200 other posthumous space travelers scheduled to take off next month from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base.

A spokesman for Space Services said the launch has now been pushed back to February for more tests on the Falcon One rocket, the BBC reported.

"They had an engine test they didn't like so they will do another month of testing," Chafer said.

Once lift-off is achieved, the tubed remains will be ejected from the rocket and orbit the Earth for about 200 years. Eventually, the tubes re-enter the atmosphere and burn.