As fans of all kinds flock to their respective conventions, whether it be comic books, movies, anime, what have you, that really have one fandom to thank. Trekkies, the die hard Star Trek fans, really birthed the convention lifestyle and have garnered a very friendly and accepting group who absolutely loves their niche of ‘Space, the final frontier’. The godfather of this fandom is William Shatner, the man behind Captain James T. Kirk, the first captain of the Starship Enterprise (and yes, we’re ignoring Captain Pike for the pilot episode, his time comes later).
Well now, Shatner has done something that no one else in the Star Trek community has ever done: He is the first actor in any aspect of the series or movies to actually go to space!
Actor William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, and Audrey Powers are back on Earth after their brief trip to space.
“That’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before,” said Shatner, who became the oldest person to fly to space at the age of 90.https://t.co/kQc9VBTOVy pic.twitter.com/oaw8Y021bD
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) October 13, 2021
Shatner was aboard the Blue Origin’s New Shepard space flight that launched on October 13th. Not only did this make him the first Star Trek actor to actually reach space, he is also the oldest person to ever do it at 90 years old. And, based on Shatner’s response to the trip, it was truly life changing moment. He was at first speechless, which many fans know is rare for the actor. But once he gathered his thoughts, he was able to express just how awe inspiring the trip was for him.
It was quite the overwhelming experience for Shatner, who embraced Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos after the excursion. As he came back down to Earth, so to speak, he reveled in the amazing trip and how it brings so much of life into question.
William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek,” has disembarked from Blue Origin’s crew capsule after traveling to space.
He was joined by Blue Origin vice president Audrey Powers and paying passengers Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.https://t.co/kQc9VBTOVy pic.twitter.com/oSw3m5uAGP
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) October 13, 2021
William Shatner describes his emotion upon returning from space.
“It was so moving to me,” he says. "This is experience was something unbelievable.”https://t.co/kQc9VBTOVy pic.twitter.com/TxFnh5F5jj
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) October 13, 2021
“What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine,” William Shatner, back from space, tells Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. "I’m so filled with emotion about what just happened. It’s extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this.” https://t.co/kQc9VBTOVy pic.twitter.com/4QR5aluuwj
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) October 13, 2021
Going into space and seeing the Earth for the outside will change a person. It can make one feel very small and yet bring a clarity, as Shatner expresses after his trip. Now there are all new questions for Captain Kirk at that next Trekkie convention.
What do you think of William Shatner’s space trip? Let us know in the comments below!