'Star Trek' Actor William Shatner 'Thrilled' But 'A Little Nervous' & 'A Little Frightened' About Being The Oldest Person In Space
William Shatner will officially become an astronaut later today.
The 90-year-old will be one of four people aboard a Blue Origin rocket when it ventures into space on Wednesday, October 13, from a launchpad in Van Horn, Tex. This will make Shatner the oldest man to travel to space.
Understandably, the Star Trek actor seems to be feeling a little daunted about the trip. "I'm thrilled and anxious and a little nervous and a little frightened about this whole new adventure," Shatner said, per Sky News.
"But I've got to think that once it's done, once I've been into space and seen the universe and seen our Earth and the contrast between that hostility and this warmth, and how important it is to keep the Earth alive so that we don't wreck it, we human beings don't wreck it, that contrast in all of that is so dramatic to me," he added.
Earlier this week, Shatner — famous for his role as Captain James Kirk — told reporters that he expects the most difficult part of the trip will be getting in and out of the rocket.
"The only thing about age that has application to this particular vehicle is getting in and out of the seat with any kind of arthritis," he explained, per the Guardian. "So unless you’re really supple, getting in and out of the seats in weight, when we’re in gravity, is a chore. But of course it’s designed [for us] to float out of the seat, in weightlessness."
Shatner was reportedly invited on the mission by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who is said to be a fan of Star Trek.
In July, Bezos traveled to space with his brother Mark and two other passengers.
The lift-off has been rescheduled for 9:30 am EST, the Independent reported. It was previously delayed by 24 hours due to high winds at the launch site.
The life-changing journey will only last a few minutes. The crew will reportedly fly 66 miles above the Earth's surface for several minutes before parachuting back down.
