What just happened? Blue Origin is sending William Shatner into space, Jeff Bezos’ private spaceflight company announced. The pending launch prepares Shatner to become the oldest person to ever fly into space. The historic flight has presumably been in discussion for a while considering it’s scheduled for next week.
Shatner has been involved in Hollywood for as long as most of us can remember. In tech circles, he is best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise from 1966 to 1969. Following a slump in his career, things took a turn for the better in the second half of the 1970s, with Shatner. taking up the role. of Kirk in a series of Star Trek movies over the next two decades.
Two amazing and inspiring people will join the # NS18 crew. Actor @WilliamShatner and Blue Origin Vice President of Flight and Mission Operations Audrey Powers @AudreyKPowers. pic.twitter.com/xqI9nw1KX8
– Blue origin (@blueorigin) October 4, 2021
Blue Origin has already put the youngest and oldest person in space. In July, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen joined Bezos on Blue Origin’s first manned space flight. He sat next to American aviator Wally Funk, who became the oldest astronaut in history at age 82. Of course, the star of that day was Bezos himself.
Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, which means he will be 90 when he heads into space. If everything goes according to plan, he will take the Funk record in the process. He will be joined by Audrey Powers, Vice President of Flight and Mission Operations for Blue Origin and two other crewmates, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.
The new Shepard NS-18 is scheduled to take off from Launch Site One in West Texas at 8:30 a.m. Central Time on October 12. Blue Origin will be the host live coverage of the event on your website starting 90 minutes before take-off.