SpaceX's rocket destroys Scotty's space-bound ashes in a demonstration of tremendous irony
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted August 4th 2008 12:22PM
posted August 4th 2008 12:22PM
Finely riding that razored edge between tragedy and comedy, the New York Times reports that not only did the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket lose its three satellites and fail to reach orbit during a recent launch, but it also destroyed the remains of actor James Doohan, best known as the original Star Trek's Chief Engineer "Scotty." The actor's ashes -- as well as those of over 200 others -- were being carried into orbit by the rocket when complications with the ship's stage separation led to the (assumed) destruction of the craft. This recent mishap puts a sad period on the end of the sentence that already included an earlier loss and eventual recovery of the remains.[Via Slashdot]
I'd like to see Hallmark make a card to fit THAT occasion.
"I'm sorry your ashes
Were blown up in space
But surely this card
Will help take their place."
Man I should write for Hallmark. I could make a fortune.
She's breakin' up Captin. She canna take much more of this.
Didn't this happen already with the previous rocket launch/separation botch up? Or are they just blowing him up a few grams at a time?
Dead Scottie on your shuttle is clearly not as useful as alive Scottie on your shuttle.
This makes me very unhappy.
SCOTTY DOESN'T KNOW
SCOTTY DOESN'T KNOW
SCOTTY DOESN'T KNOW
GET YOUR ASS TO MARS!
actually i have no idea what meme you're referring to, unless you're not....?
Scotty doesn't know that Fionna and me...
Good movie.
he is refering to the movie Eruo Trip.. its a song they sing in the movie. although has NOTHING to do with this story.
i guess they forgot to carry the one
I guess it was lucky it was just carrying the ashes.
If it had been carrying the 200 bodies, that would have been somewhat awkward.
Kinda like a low orbit pinata..
Still, we can now say that Sadly, SpaceX Spacebound Satellite Stage Seperation Scattered StarTreks' Scotty Stratospherically on Saturday the Second.
Ok, time for me to lay off the ginger beer..
My God, the alliteration is awesomely amazing.
"Beam me up Scottie!"
*silence*
"Damn it, Scottie, I said, "Beam Me Up!"
"Interesting..."
Gee, do ya think anyone will sue about the blown up ashes? I'm guessing "yeah".
Shoulda made that rocket out of transparent aluminum.
Soooo fitting. Beam us up Scotty.
"All I can say is...they don't make them like they used ta." -- Scotty, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
"In four hours the ship blows up" -- Scotty (The Savage Curtain)
"In four hours the ship blows up" -- Scotty (The Savage Curtain)
Here's the quote I imagine SpaceX will take to heart but not talk about much:
"It's borderline on the simulator, we need to do more tests." -- Scotty, Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Language Nazi, George Carlin notes that isn't actually irony. It's coincidence.
[Suddenly heard being sung and hummed throughout Micronesia] "Its raining men..."
Correction, Celestis a total of about 5 grams of Scotty's ashes, and about 1 gram each of 200 others' ashes. Scotty (all 5 grams of him) did get one heck of a ride, though... They have backup vials in case something like this happens for the next launch...
Don't know about all of you guys but, isn't anyone else angered by this to the point of wanting to shut this outfit down ?
A persons remains should be sacred or atleast thought of as is.
I for one will sorely miss mr dohan and I am enraged at space x for not releasing a immediate statement of apology to his family and friends.
Regards,
~X
"A keyboard. How quaint."
Oh and Sorry Adam, this most definately qualifies as Irony.
From Dictionary.com
"5. an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected. "
Scotty, a long time Ships engineer and veritable "miracle" worker for the Enterprise, has his ashes blasted off the face of the Earth and into space. Only, this time, "THE ENGINES CAN'T TAKE IT" for real, and The ship blows appart, something the Enterprise never did.
Except for when Kirk blows it up in ST III. Or when the NCC-1701-D crashes in ST: Generations.
As his ashes float back to earth I can now say..
There is a little Scotty on all of us.
RIP my little re-run friend..