'Scotty' remains perpetually in space

HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty in "Star Trek," is one of 118 people whose remains will be launched into space by Celestis, a Connecticut company.

Doohan played Montgomery Scott, the chief engineer of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" series. The Canadian actor died July 20, 2005 in Redmond, Wash.

The cremated remains of L. Gordon Cooper, an aerospace pioneer and National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut, will also be on board the October space flight.

Celestis, Inc., a division of Space Services, Inc., pioneered memorial space flights, transporting the remains of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek," and 1960s author Timothy Leary. Celestis has launched five previous missions, an UP Aerospace, Inc. news release said.

"The flight efficiency of our SpaceLoft XL vehicle allows Celestis to offer 'Legacy Flights' -- the lowest-priced memorial space flights ever," said Chief Executive Officer of UP Aerospace Eric Knight.

Spaceport America, the first commercial spaceport, is being built in New Mexico. The company plans to schedule up to 30 space flights per year.