Posted for Katharine Sanderson

Over the weekend, SpaceX tried for a third time, and failed for a third time, to launch its Falcon 1 rocket. On board the rocket were three payloads – a US military satellite and two from NASA – all lost.

But it seems that the rocket also had another precious cargo. Reports abound that ashes of James Doohan, the actor who played Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott, chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek, were on board Falcon 1, along with the remains of 207 other people. This has prompted much attention, especially from news blogs:

Something about this sad tale rang a bell, and sure enough, it was widely reported just over a year ago that Scotty’s ashes were lost in an attempt to reach space. In April 2007 a rocket whizzed 70 miles up, carrying with it Scotty’s ashes. The rocket parachuted back to Earth as planned, but got pushed off course and was lost in New Mexico…

Luckily the capsule containing the ashes was recovered a month later.

I was wondering how many portions these people’s remains were divided into, and how the families left behind feel about these failed attempts. In a touching letter on boingboing Doohan’s son Ehrich Blackhound answers at least one of those questions. “While there are many complicated reasons why this is a disappointment, mine is simple: I’d like to finish saying goodbye.” He continues: “Every launch attempt is like reliving his funeral… Grieving can’t wait for the pace of progress, and I have to say goodbye now. So when news of the next launch rolls around, please don’t ask me about it; I won’t be paying attention.”

Blackhound does seem to think that his father would have wanted to keep trying until the technology finally succeeded. But maybe people’s feelings back here on Earth, in the realm of the living, should be considered from now on?