Celestis' Enterprise Mission Finally Ready to Blast Off With STAR TREK's DeForest Kelley Aboard

DeForest Kelley and Kris M. Smith. Images: Celestis / Kris M. Smith.

OCTOBER 27, 2023 - This Christmas Eve, space enthusiasts and Star Trek fans will have something extra to celebrate as the DNA of DeForest Kelley, renowned for his role as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the original Star Trek series, will be launched into space. 

CNBC is reporting that the launch is part of Celestis' Enterprise and Tranquility Flights, which have faced at least four postponements but are now confirmed for a celestial send-off on December 24, 2023.

United Launch Alliance (ULA), under the stewardship of its CEO, has slated the inaugural launch of its Vulcan rocket for Christmas Eve, aligning with Celestis' memorial spaceflight. The event will be much more than a technical milestone, as it intertwines with a heartfelt tribute to the late actor and others whose remains will be sent into space.

A memorial service is scheduled for December 23, the day before the launch, to honor the participants of this special voyage. Kris Smith, a close acquaintance of Kelley, has shared a eulogy for the actor, which will be showcased during the service. 

Although Smith was initially invited to attend the launch in person and deliver the tribute live, she said in a blog post that she has opted to remain home due to the challenges and health concerns posed by the winter travel. Nonetheless, she has inquired about the possibility of delivering her message live remotely during the service.

The launch and the memorial service will be available for the public to view via live stream on Celestis' website, allowing those interested to partake in the event virtually. This launch symbolizes a unique blend of space exploration with personal and communal remembrance, marking a new chapter in how we commemorate and celebrate the lives of the departed.

As the Vulcan rocket propels into the cosmos carrying the DNA of Kelley and a number of others, it symbolizes an enduring connection between the realms of science fiction and real-world space exploration. The event encapsulates the spirit of adventure and exploration that Star Trek has epitomized for generations, now manifesting in a tangible tribute to one of its beloved characters.

You can listen to our interview with Smith below. And if you want to hear our interviews with other people associated with the Enterprise mission, including Celestis President Colby Youngblood and James Doohan’s widow Wende, you can subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen or head over to Roddenberry Podcasts.