The axis of Star Trek actor James Doohan was allegedly smuggled aboard the International Space Station by video game developer and entrepreneur Richard Garriott.
Doohan famously portrayed Montgomery, Scotty, Scott, the engineer of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise.
The Canadian actor died in 2005 at the age of 85, but still managed to recover in the years that followed.
According to Deadline, Garriott was one of the first private citizens to visit the International Space Station (ISS) in 2008 during a 12-day self-funded mission as a private astronaut.
In a new interview, Garriott told The Sunday Times of how he was contacted by the son of actor Chris Doohan, who said it was his father’s wish to pick up the ISS.
Garriott agrees to the statement and receives the ashes from Doohan, but due to time constraints he had to bypass the official process of bringing objects aboard the station.
In what he called a “completely secret” mission, Garriott smuggled several laminated photographs of Doohan – containing his ashes – aboard the ISS. He secretly hid one of the cards behind the cladding in the floor of the station’s Columbus module.
“His family was very happy that the ashes could get there, but we were all disappointed that we could not talk about it in public for so long. Now there is enough time left that we can, ”said Garriott.
Gariott reportedly put a second laminated card in the room, while the third was returned to the son of the deceased actor.
Talk to the Times, Doohan’s son praised Garriott for taking the risk on behalf of his father. He told the publication: ‘Richard said,’ We need to keep this silence for a while, ‘and here we are 12 years later.
‘What he did was touch – it means so much to me, so much to my family, and it would have meant so much to my father. My dad had three passions: space, science and trains. He always wanted to go to space. ”
A video of Garriott with the map at the station was also published by the publication.