Doohan ashes presumed lost in SpaceX rocket failure
- Thread starter Magic_Al
- Start date
Ironic really..." She canna take it captin! she'll blow up fer sure!"
Man. I mean its like its just not meant to be. Hell just slip some of his ashes onto a shuttle with nasa and let them go.
As far as Im aware (and I could be wrong - yes theres a first time for everything
)
Only a few grams or so of the cremated remains are used for these space burials.
Which means preumably his familly have lots more for them to try and get it right?
)Only a few grams or so of the cremated remains are used for these space burials.
Which means preumably his familly have lots more for them to try and get it right?
Hirogen Alpha, yes, in fact the human remains module was recovered from the previous rocket, which was actually a sub-orbital flight that came back down as planned, with some delay finding the capsule due to rough terrain. This time it was launched in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and so recovery seems unlikely.
ZERO_of_ZERO, apparently the amount flown is 7 grams. The company offers a less expensive 1 gram option but it's believed Doohan and Astronaut Gordon Cooper were both offered the premium service for free, for obvious reasons. Most of Doohan's ashes were scattered by the family at a traditional funeral but a portion was kept for spaceflight, apparently enough for multiple attempts, considering the high risk of failure in any spaceflight.
One of Doohan's sons Ehrich Blackhound writes of his distress at how long it is taking to fulfill his father's space-funeral wishes. It's worth considering that most of us do not face prolonged delays and technical failures for something as basic as a funeral of a loved one.
ZERO_of_ZERO, apparently the amount flown is 7 grams. The company offers a less expensive 1 gram option but it's believed Doohan and Astronaut Gordon Cooper were both offered the premium service for free, for obvious reasons. Most of Doohan's ashes were scattered by the family at a traditional funeral but a portion was kept for spaceflight, apparently enough for multiple attempts, considering the high risk of failure in any spaceflight.
One of Doohan's sons Ehrich Blackhound writes of his distress at how long it is taking to fulfill his father's space-funeral wishes. It's worth considering that most of us do not face prolonged delays and technical failures for something as basic as a funeral of a loved one.
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Maybe it would be best if they got Nasa to do it. Anyone know if Nasa would even consider spreading ashes in space? Even if they don't normally it seems like an exception could be made for Cooper and Doohan.
The worst part about watching this live was the fact that the rocket aborted after firing its rocket engine the first time around. They recycled and made a second attempt 30 minutes later. Nobody went to see why the rocket just shut down on the first attempt, they just crunched some numbers, recycled, launched, and boom.
That being said, given the description of the failure that has leaked to several space-related sites, my bet is on something stupid like a bolt that failed to blow, as the failure took place right around MECO/Stage Separation.
This was SpaceX's third failed launch attempt... here's hoping they learn.
Rob+
That being said, given the description of the failure that has leaked to several space-related sites, my bet is on something stupid like a bolt that failed to blow, as the failure took place right around MECO/Stage Separation.
This was SpaceX's third failed launch attempt... here's hoping they learn.
Rob+
I'm hoping they are not around to build the Phoenix... or Cochrane would never reach Warp Speed.
This has to be rough on the family of Jimmy Doohan. I hope one day they WILL get his ashes into space. I'm also surprised NASA hasn't taken up the challenge. It wouldn't add much weight, yet it would add much needed publicity.
A poster on another forum said it's illegal for NASA to perform launch services that compete with private enterprise. Gene Roddenberry's ashes were quietly flown round trip in a shuttle astronaut's personal kit in 1992 but there were no commercial space memorial companies then. Maybe an astronaut could still do it as a personal thing if it was kept secret, and maybe a loophole would be if the U.S. astronaut was flying in a Russian spacecraft, as happens regularly for space station crew rotation.
The other problem with releasing ashes in space, especially on the same orbit as the ISS / Shuttle is the fact that even ashes could do damage at orbital velocity, and they would be nearly impossible to track. A larger sattelite is fine, but just taking a tiny canister (i.e. lipstick case size) and either leaving it in orbit or emptying the case could potentially result in some very not nice stuff happening to the space station, shuttle, or other orbital vehicles.
The last thing we want is for Jimmy Doohan's remains to blow out a window on a spacecraft...
Rob+
The last thing we want is for Jimmy Doohan's remains to blow out a window on a spacecraft...
Rob+
Considering the failures of the so-called private space flight industy, it certainly puts the lie to the claim, widely held by conservatives and libertarians everywhere, that private enterprise is more efficient than the government! 
-- RR
-- RR
Considering the failures of the so-called private space flight industy, it certainly puts the lie to the claim, widely held by conservatives and libertarians everywhere, that private enterprise is more efficient than the government!
Overgeneralize much?
I'd really like to see them succeed at this.
Personally, I wouldn't mind shooting my remains into space. It's certainly better than sitting in the ground being eaten by bugs.
Personally, I wouldn't mind shooting my remains into space. It's certainly better than sitting in the ground being eaten by bugs.
Considering the failures of the so-called private space flight industry, it certainly puts the lie to the claim, widely held by conservatives and libertarians everywhere, that private enterprise is more efficient than the government!
Overgeneralize much?
No, I leave that up to you!
-- RR