Ashes of Star Trek star to be sent into space

"The ashes of Star Trek's James Doohan, who died Wednesday at his home in Redmond, Washington, will be sent into space in accordance with his wishes, his agent here said.


James Doohan (Top R) as Scotty posing with the rest of 'Starship Enterprise' crew in 1999 (AFP/file)

The 85-year-old actor, who played engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott in the original 'Star Trek' TV series in the 1960s and the motion pictures that it spawned, died early in the morning of pneumonia and complications from Alzheimer's disease, said Steven Stevens.

The actor's ashes are to be sent into space -- as Doohan had wanted -- by a company called Space Services Inc., according to the agent.

The Houston-based company teams with commercial launch organizations in offering out-of-this-world memorial services and it has sent into space the ashes of 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry and drug guru Timothy Leary.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is offering a moreearthly tribute to Doohan Wednesday afternoon, when representatives will place flowers on Doohan's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

'I don't think anyone loved his fans and appreciated his fans more than he did,' said Stevens. 'He just adored them, and it shows -- they adored him.'"