William Shatner launches into space on Blue Origin rocket
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos greeted 'Star Trek' actor, 3 others after safe landing
William Shatner makes history on Blue Origin space flight
Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku says Shatner going to space as the oldest person in history paints a bright future for older space travelers.
William Shatner, 90, made history on Wednesday morning aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket as the oldest person to go to space.
'STAR TREK'S' SHATNER GOING TO SPACE ON BEZOS' BLUE ORIGIN ROCKET, ADMIRES 'REMARKABLE' VISION
The "Star Trek" actor joined the sub-orbital spaceflight company's vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers, vice chair for life sciences and healthcare at the French software company Dassault Systèmes Glen de Vries and co-founder of the Earth-observation company Planet Chris Boshuizen.
The two entrepreneurs had unsuccessfully bid for a seat on the previous flight with Bezos, according to The Associated Press, whereas Shatner was invited as a guest.
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) | AP Newsroom
The NS-18 mission launched around 10:50 a.m. ET from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in West Texas, and reached altitudes of more than 300,000 feet, experiencing the effects of zero gravity
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The rocket booster separated from New Shepard's capsule and returned to Earth approximately eight minutes after liftoff.
Much like Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's July 20 flight, the four passengers on the second crewed New Shepard flight experienced four minutes of weightlessness, with the entire journey lasting for just about 10 minutes.
Bezos, a "Star Trek" fan, was on hand at the launch site Wednesday, greeting the passengers before they loaded into the cabin and after they landed. Bezos' girlfriend Lauren Sanchez was also there.
The group reached a maximum altitude just above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
'Star Trek’s' William Shatner going to space on Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, admires 'remarkable' vision
Actor William Shatner discusses his upcoming launch to space.
The launch was already delayed by a day due to weather conditions.
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"We’re just at the beginning, but how miraculous that beginning is. How extraordinary it is to be part of that beginning," Shatner said in a Tuesday night Blue Origin video. "It looks like there’s a great deal of curiosity about this fictional character, Captain Kirk, going into space. So let’s go along with it and enjoy the ride."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.