But will he get to say, "Engage"?
That is Captain Jean-Luc Picard's phrase [0]. Kirk usual say "Take us out, Mr Sulu." 0: https://screenrant.com/star-trek-captains-engage-picard-pike...
That was the joke, yes.
Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
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Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#22Is Elon countering with the guy who made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs?
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#23The risk/reward doesn't seem to make sense for Bezos. If Shatner dies, it'll be the end of their program. If he lives, maybe a marginal benefit? The man is 90, and his health is not stellar. He legit could die of anything.
tbf given that it's Shatner you could morbidly enough spin it as a "Captain Kirk at last goes home, cultural sci-fi icon dies in space" thing, I have no doubt they would be rolling with that angle
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Given Shatner's prior comments on the subject, it's obvious that Bezos is paying Shatner a lot of money to be able to advertise that Captain Kirk flew on a Blue Origin rocket. Definitely the sort of thing that a competitor that knows that it is behind and is willing to do/pay anything to get ahead would do.
Shatner does seem to always want to make a buck, but at 90, with all those years of conventions, meet and greets, and sweet TJ Hooker royalty checks, doesn't he have enough money?
He has three kids, presumably a good few grandkids by now. Not sure how morbid his outlook is but if I were 90 I might look at this as an opportunity to make an even bigger pile of cash I can pass down to my descendants... I'm going out soon anyway, so why not?
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Shatner does seem to always want to make a buck, but at 90, with all those years of conventions, meet and greets, and sweet TJ Hooker royalty checks, doesn't he have enough money?
He has three kids, presumably a good few grandkids by now. Not sure how morbid his outlook is but if I were 90 I might look at this as an opportunity to make an even bigger pile of cash I can pass down to my descendants... I'm going out soon anyway, so why not?
Exactly. Live and you pad your pockets. Die and you pad your heirs pockets. You were already 90 in medium-poor health anyway and not many people get a chance to go to space in any capacity. Having "fabulously wealthy entertainer and space tourist" on your gravestone is better than just "fabulously wealthy entertainer". All the upsides are still there but the risk side of the equation is much lower at 90 than at 80.
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#26"I've giv'n her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more."
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#27Bezos if you kill Shatner so many people are going to be furious
Bezos is a huge Trek fan, so he'd be equally mortified is my guess.
Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#28Re: Captain Kirk: Bezos' Blue Origin to Send William Shatner into Space
#29My take is a little bit different from what I've read so far. SpaceX just completed a truly history all-civilian, all-non-astronaut, three day orbital flight at an altitude above the ISS. SpaceX also secured Artemis mission contracts. They go to space all the time and continue to optimize their reusable orbital-class systems.
the Blue Origin and Virgin offerings are not even in the same class. And Blue Origin/Bezos is struggling to remain relevant. I see the Shatner thing purely as a publicity stunt. I also see it as having no real value whatsoever. Just my opinion.
On top of that, they raised over $200MM for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
The SpaceX Netflix documentary on the Inspiration4 mission is worth watching.
Here's the flight's website: