William Shatner travels to space aboard Blue Origin rocket
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By Michelle Ewing and Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
VAN HORN, Texas — William Shatner on Wednesday became the oldest person to travel into space when he embarked on his first real-life journey into the final frontier on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and capsule.
The 90-year-old actor, who famously portrayed Capt. James T. Kirk from 1966 to 1969 in the original Star Trek series, in several Star Trek movies between 1979 and 1994 and numerous other times over the course of the franchise’s history, blasted off from Van Horn alongside Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations, Audrey Powers, and crewmates Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.
Shatner to space William Shatner, second from left, raises his hand while speaking with Audrey Powers, left, Chris Boshuizen, second from right and Glen de Vries raises during a media availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space William Shatner, center right, speaks as Audrey Powers, left, Chris Boshuizen, center right, and Glen de Vries all look on during a media availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. The “Star Trek” actor and the three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude of 66.5 miles (107 kilometers) over the West Texas desert in the fully automated capsule, then safely parachuted back to Earth in a flight that lasted just over 10 minutes.(AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space William Shatner smiles during a media availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. The “Star Trek” actor and three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude of 66.5 miles (107 kilometers) over the West Texas desert in the fully automated capsule, then safely parachuted back to Earth in a flight that lasted just over 10 minutes. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Audrey Powers, left, speaks as William Shatner, from left, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries look on during a media availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. The “Star Trek” actor and the three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude of 66.5 miles (107 kilometers) over the West Texas desert in the fully automated capsule, then safely parachuted back to Earth in a flight that lasted just over 10 minutes. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket latest space passengers from right Glen de Vries, right, Chris Boshuizen, William Shatner and Audrey Powers walk on the booster rocker landing pad for a media availability at the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule lands in Texas, the United States. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space Wednesday on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shatner to space A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Jeff Bezos greets William Shatner and other crew members of Blue Origin's New Shepard after the crew capsule landed back in Texas, the United States. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space Wednesday on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shatner to space A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Jeff Bezos talks to William Shatner after Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule landed back in Texas, the United States. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space Wednesday on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shatner to space A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Jeff Bezos talks to William Shatner after Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule landed back in Texas, the United States. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space Wednesday on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shatner to space A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Blue Origin spacecraft New Shepard prepares to take-off in Texas, the United States. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space Wednesday on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Shatner to space Parachutes slow the descent of the Blue Origin capsule with passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries near the company's spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches carrying passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches carrying passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches carrying passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space The New Shepard rocket launches on October 13, 2021, from the West Texas region, 25 miles (40kms) north of Van Horn. - "Star Trek" actor William Shatner is going to where no 90-year-old has gone before when he blasts off to space Wednesday on Blue Origin's second crewed mission, NS-18. He will be joined on the New Shepard rocket by Blue Origins Vice President of Mission & Flight Operations, Audrey Powers; Planet Labs co-founder, Chris Boshuizen, and Medidata Solutions Co-Founder, Glen de Vries. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Members of the media are gathered before Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute spaceflight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Blue Origin’s New Shepard sits on the launch pad prior to lift off carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute spaceflight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Blue Origin’s New Shepard sits on the launch pad prior to lift off carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute spaceflight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Members of the media report before Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute spaceflight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Blue Origin’s New Shepard sits on the launch pad prior to lift off carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute spaceflight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space VAN HORN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: A full-size replica of Blue Origin's crew capsule is displayed before Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner will become the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute flight. Shatner, along with civilians Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries, are riding aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Shatner to space Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket sits ready for launch from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space FILE - This 1988 file photo shows William Shatner dressed as Capt. James T. Kirk at a photo opportunity promoting the Paramount Studios film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." The performer who breathed life into Kirk is, at age 90, heading toward the stars under dramatically different circumstances than his fictional counterpart when Shatner boards Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin NS-18. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith, File) (Bob Galbraith/AP)
Shatner to space FILE - In this 1988 file photo, William Shatner, who portrays Capt. James T. Kirk, attends a photo opportunity for the film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." The performer who breathed life into Kirk is, at age 90, heading toward the stars under dramatically different circumstances than his fictional counterpart when Shatner boards Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin NS-18. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith, File) (Bob Galbraith/AP)
Shatner to space The sun is seen rising over the area of the Blue Origin launch site near Van Horn, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space The Blue Origin launch site is seen from a distance as the sun rises near Van Horn, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Rick Pratt uses a monocular to get get a view of the Blue Origin Launch side near Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. . Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather.(AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Trying to get a looks at the Blue Origin launch site, Rick Pratt stands outside the entrance near Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. . Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space A woman walks by a Blue Origin mural in Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Van Horn Mayor Becky Brewster shows-off a Star Trek themed hand sign as she poses for a photo in Van Horn, Texas, Tuesday Oct. 12, 2021. The nearby Blue Origin launch site is 20 miles north of her city. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Carol Larro of Atlanta, Ga., checks out the sign at the entrance to the Blue Origin launch site near Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.. Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Shatner to space Albert Fehrenbach, center right, and his wife, Susan Fehrenbach, right, chat with Rick Pratt, left, and his wife, Cameron Pratt, as they visit the entrance of the Blue Origin launch site near Van Horn, Texas, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. . Tuesday's launch was pushed to Wednesday due to weather. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero/AP)
Update 11:22 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: Actor William Shatner expressed awe Wednesday after traveling to space on a Blue Origin rocket.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine,” Shatner told Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos following the flight.
“I’m so filled with emotion about what just happened. I just, it’s extraordinary. Extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it -- it’s so, so much larger than me and life.”
He said he saw beautiful soft blue light as the flight traveled further away from Earth before it broke into darkness.
“In an instant you go, ‘Wow, that’s death,’” he said. “That’s what I saw. I am overwhelmed. I had no idea.”
Update 11:14 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos popped champagne Wednesday after the New Shepard capsule landed safely following a flight to space.
“Everybody in the world needs to do this,” an emotional William Shatner said after exiting the capsule. “Everybody in the world needs to see. It was unbelievable.”
Update 11 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: The New Shepard capsule has touched down after heading into space Wednesday morning with actor William Shatner and three others onboard.
Update 10:55 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: Officials with Blue Origin said the people abroad the New Shepard NS-18, including actor William Shatner, “are getting out of their seats and experiencing weightlessness” minutes after taking off from Van Horn.
Update 10:50 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: The New Shepard NS-18 has lifted off from Van Horn, beginning an 11-minute flight into space.
Update 10:35 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: The countdown clock for Wednesday’s launch has restarted after being being paused at 15 minutes as Blue Origin prepares for the as the New Shepard NS-18 to launch into space.
The rocket is set to take off around 10:50 a.m.
Blue Origin shared messages Wednesday from crew members on Blue Origin’s first flight in July to those waiting to take off.
Wally Funk, the 82-year-old who in July became the oldest person to fly to space, said she hoped “this flight will be the most fantastic experience of your life, as it was mine.”
The youngest person to fly into space, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, wished the crew well and said, “I can assure you that it will better than your best imagination.”
Update 10:07 a.m. EDT Oct. 13: The crew of the New Shepard NS-18 are in final preparations for takeoff from Van Horn on Wednesday morning after a brief delay to give mission teams time to analyze winds near the launchpad, according to Blue Origin and The New York Times.
Original report: William Shatner is set to embark on his first real-life journey into space.
According to The Associated Press, the 90-year-old “Star Trek” actor is scheduled to board Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule and rocket Wednesday morning before heading to the edge of the final frontier. Three other people – crew members Glen de Vries, Chris Boshuizen and Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations – will accompany Shatner on the 10-minute flight, which lifts off at 9 a.m. CDT from Van Horn, Texas.
In a video shared Tuesday on Instagram, Shatner shared his enthusiasm for his upcoming trip and praised Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, who flew to space aboard the same capsule and rocket on July 20.
“Jeff Bezos’ concept to make living and building in space, and to make pollution a thing of the past – what noble ambitions those are, and somebody has to start them,” Shatner said in the video. “We’re just at the beginning, but how miraculous that beginning it is, how extraordinary it is to be part of that beginning.”
Wednesday’s flight comes more than three months after Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson traveled to space aboard his own rocket on July 11, according to the AP. In September, SpaceX also sent an all-civilian crew into orbit, although company founder Elon Musk did not join them, the AP reported.
Photos: William Shatner through the years Here are some memorable moments from actor William Shatner's life in the public eye. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1966: American actor Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock and Canadian actor William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk appear in a scene from "The Man Trap," the premiere episode of "Star Trek," which aired on September 8, 1966. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1969: Yvonne Craig plays Marta (a green alien from Orion) and William Shatner as Capt. James T. Kirk on the "Star Trek: The Original Series" episode, "Whom Gods Destroy." (CBS via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1974: Robert Reed, Marjoe Gortner, Andy Griffith and William Shatner appear in the ABC TV movie "Pray for the Wildcats." (American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1979: William Shatner and wife Marcy Lafferty attend the premiere of "The Cina Syndrome" on March 6, 1979, at Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1982: Leonard Nimoy, Marvin Chomsky and William Shatner appear at the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, on September 19, 1982. (George Long/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1985: T.J. Hooker, a CBS television police drama. Pictured from left are James Darren (as Officer Jim Corrigan), Heather Locklear (as Officer Stacy Sheridan) and William Shatner (as Sgt. T.J. Hooker). (CBS via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1987: Actor William Shatner and date Marcy Lafferty arrive at the 1987 Academy Awards. (Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1990: William Shatner attends 16th annual People's Choice Awards on March 11, 1990, at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1992: Loni Anderson, Ann-Margret and William Shatner during Environment Special Taping With William Shatner at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 1995: Actor William Shatner during an interview with host Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on May 31, 1995. (Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2000: Candice Bergen and William Shatner during the "Miss Congeniality" Los Angeles Premiere at Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Sam Levi/WireImage)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2002: Actors Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner appear at a public signing of the recently released DVD/VHS of "Mind Meld: Secrets behind the voyage of a Lifetime" on March 17, 2002, in Los Angeles. (J. Emilio Flores/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2004: Actor William Shatner poses with his award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series backstage at the 2004 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 12, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2006: Actor William Shatner and wife Elizabeth Anderson Martin arrive at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on August 27, 2006, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2008: Actor William Shatner and Elizabeth Anderson Martin arrive at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2009: Actor William Shatner accepts the Ultimate Scream award from actor Morgan Freeman onstage during Spike TV's Scream 2009 held at the Greek Theatre on October 17, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2011: Figure skater and TV personality Scott Hamilton, rock legend Joe Walsh, Lionel Richie and actor William Shatner attend the 2011 CMT Artists of the Year celebration at the Bridgestone Arena on November 29, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2013: Actor William Shatner and wife Elizabeth Shatner depart the Oscars at Hollywood and Highland Center on February 24, 2013, in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2015: Co-host Brad Paisley, actor William Shatner and co-host Carrie Underwood speak onstage at the 49th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 4, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2016: Actors Scott Bakula and William Shatner attend the "Star Trek" panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2016, in San Diego. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2018: LeVar Burton, Sonequa Martin-Green, Walter Koenig, Jeri Ryan, Alex Kurtzman and William Shatner pose in the press room at the 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years 2019: William Shatner and Jeff Cook of Alabama are seen at The Grand Ole Opry on February 15, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Photos: William Shatner through the years William Shatner speaks at the William Shatner Spotlight panel during Day 1 of New York Comic Con 2021 at Jacob Javits Center on October 07, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ReedPop) (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ReedPop)
Photos: William Shatner through the years Star Trek actor William Shatner speaks during a media availability on the landing pad of Blue Origin’s New Shepard after flying into space on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute flight. He flew with three other civilians aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)