William Shatner does not want to throw up in space

It would seem that this issue was definitively settled early this year, when William Shatner made it clear he’s not a Virgin Galactic customer. But since his name still appears as one of several celebrities reportedly flying on SpaceShipTwo, Shatner made it bluntly clear to the British media that he is a bit, well, scared, of flying in space: “I’m interested in man’s march into the unknown but to vomit in space is not my idea of a good time. Neither is a fiery crash with the vomit hovering over me.” (I think in the case of a fiery crash, the vomit won’t be hovering for long, but anyway…) Shatner, who was offered a free ticket from Richard Branson, did note that “I do want to go up but I need guarantees I’ll definitely come back.”

(This report did get a fair amount of play in the entertainment media, including, oddly enough, the North Korea Times. Perhaps the Dear Leader is a big Captain Kirk/T.J. Hooker/Denny Crane fan.)

The article in The Sun also claims that Sigourney Weaver is among those who have booked a trip with Virgin Galactic. However, Weaver said last week she’s not interested, so who knows?

7 comments to William Shatner does not want to throw up in space

  • Chance

    I’d rather not send up too many stars known for science fiction roles. I would rather a couple respected politicians, an oscar winner or two, and some sports heroes go. You know, to built gravitas. But, it ain’t my boat. He can invite who he wants.

  • It seems pretty hard for Kim Jung Il to get the kind of good press that Branson gets for his rockets.

  • I’ll take their tickets!

    — Donald

  • Peter

    I have one thing to say to Mr Shatner… CHICKEN!!! Seriously, none of Kirk’s bravery ever rubed off…

  • .

    why William Shatner and Sigourney Weaver must risk their life for sci-fi fans and Branson’s business?

    .

  • […] An interesting note: this is not the first time that Hawking has been linked to Virgin Galactic. In a number of previous reports, like this Business Week article back in August, Hawking was listed among celebrities who were either interested in such a flight or who had already signed up. However, since those lists included people like William Shatner and Sigourney Weaver who have since stated that they have no interest in flying in space, it’s been tough to take those lists seriously. […]

  • […] We’ve pretty much established here already that, despite various media reports, William Shatner is not one of the celebrities who have signed up for suborbital spaceflights with Virgin Galactic. Still, this explanation from Shatner in an article from The Times of London is a bit humorous: “One little tile burns and you drop to your death? I’ve been approached to do some things with astronauts and the preparation that astronauts go through. One of the things you have to do is get used to weightlessness and they have a Boeing plane that does an outside loop so you’re weightless for about 30 seconds. It’s called the Vomit Comet and I don’t like to vomit.” […]

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