by The famous Roddenberry The family heads to the final frontier.
The DNA of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and his wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberryas well as that of his son, Rod, will launch on January 8, in the first liftoff of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
The main objectives of the flight are to send the private lunar lander Peregrine towards Earth’s nearest neighbor and to show that Vulcan Centaur is ready for prime time. But Houston space company Celestis also reserved a spot on the rocket, for a mission it calls Enterprise Flight.
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In addition to preserved DNA samples from Rod and his late parents, the memorial flight includes the cremated remains, memory files and DNA capsules of “Star Trek” icons Nichelle “Uhura” Nichols, James “Scotty” Doohan and DeForest “Bones” Kelley.
Also released on January 8 is the DNA of George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, Academy Award-winning special effects legend Douglas Trumbull (“2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters close to the third type”), and others. Also on board will be the genetic material of ULA CEO Tory Bruno and his wife Rebecca. These samples will be transported to deep space, beyond the Earth-Moon system.
Space.com spoke with Rod Roddenberry, who oversees Roddenberry Entertainment and serves as executive producer of “Star Trek: Discovery,” “Star Trek: Picard,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “Star Trek: Prodigy” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”, during the height of the Christmas season. He talked about how he got his ticket to the stars, what his famous “Star Trek” parents would have thought of this exotic adventure and what Christmas was like in the Roddenberry house when Rod was growing up in sunny Los Angeles.
Space.com: “Star Wars” is often associated with summer fun and “Star Trek” with Christmas, not only because many “Star Trek” movies were released during the holidays, but because of the progressive approach and themes reflective of the franchise. Have you ever considered that link to Christmas and how you view the two titans of science fiction?
Rod Roddenberry: I love it when I hear something new about “Star Trek,” and I can make up my own reasons right now based on that. There is generosity, family, closeness and, hopefully, a little more intellect at Christmas. Summer is more action and play, which is “Star Wars.” It’s a great thought. I haven’t spent much time on it, but I like it.
Space.com: How did you make the decision to add your DNA to the Celestis Enterprise flight with your parents?
Roddenberry: This all started in the ’90s, with my mother and Charles Chafer of Celestis. He made him a promise that he would blow away my father’s ashes, and it took some time, but he did it. Then she made a promise that she would fly with both of them together, and that has taken many, many years.
As we know, it is not easy to get these rockets into space, especially beyond our orbit. It is incredible and very symbolic. Who else should be sent into space but the people who created and contributed to “Star Trek”? The motto is: “Where no one has gone before.” Well, Gene Roddenberry, the essence of him, Majel Roddenberry and my DNA will truly go, along with others, where no one has gone before.
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Space.com: What was the process of providing your DNA to Celestis?
Roddenberry: It was simple. It’s basically a swab, a test tube, and some chemical that helps preserve the DNA. You simply circle the inside of your mouth, put it in the tube, cap it, put it in the self-addressed envelope and that’s it. They do the science and it becomes DNA.
Space.com: Will you be attending the live launch on January 8 at Kennedy Space Center?
Roddenberry: It is 100% my intention to do so. That’s all unless I guarantee I’ll be there.
Space.com: What would mom and dad think of a commemorative Enterprise flight?
Roddenberry: It’s hard to speak for them, but I can make some assumptions that I think are pretty accurate. My father was ahead of his time, and while I don’t know if he specifically thought this exact thing would happen, I don’t think at all that he was surprised by cremations or sending remains into space in a symbolic gesture. I feel like being buried in the ground is symbolic. Being cremated is symbolic.
Whatever you do with your physical remains when you are gone is, in my opinion, symbolic and has meaning for the person and their family. So I think you would both find this very appropriate for his remains. Who else should live among the cosmos? Even if it is symbolically. They are Majel and Gene Roddenberry.
Espacio.com. There is a synchronicity with this upcoming Celestis mission, coming not only as “Star Trek” is gaining popularity, but also as the new space economy is flourishing alongside NASA’s. Sagebrush He dreams of returning to the moon in 2024/25. Why is this the ideal time for the Enterprise flight?
Roddenberry: It’s a very opportune time for this to be happening. “Star Trek” is having a renaissance and a renaissance. I’m not sure how long it will last. I hope indefinitely, of course. They’ve done a great job of realizing that there are multiple audiences and that there are ways to reach larger audiences and younger demographics. You learn something from everything that doesn’t work. This is the perfect time for the creator of “Star Trek” to be launched into deep space, as well as for my mother and all the other people who will be on board and who contributed to “Star Trek” or are important to our humanity. evolution.
Space.com: What has been the most rewarding aspect of watching “Star Trek” flourish over the past five years?
Roddenberry: It’s a new generation of people who are working on “Star Trek.” Many of them grew up with “Star Trek” and are fans in their own way. So, what’s different from the ’80s and ’90s generation is that a lot of those people were studio personnel who worked in the entertainment industry. Sure, some of them might have enjoyed “The Original Series” and appreciated it, but many of them worked in those positions because they were simply doing their jobs.
They are passionate about this new era of people who contribute to the program. They try to break down what makes “Star Trek” more than just a sci-fi TV show. I think the caliber of people working on “Star Trek” today is more beneficial than in previous years because they care. And I’m not saying that no one cared before. The thing is, a lot of them get it and they really want it to be great, not for a paycheck, but because “Star Trek” needs to be great.
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Space.com: Moving forward to 2024, what “Star Trek” projects are you excited about?
Roddenberry: I’m very excited to see more of “Prodigy,” which will now be on Netflix. I thought it was an incredibly well-made show, not only for children but for adults as well. It was one of the most authentic “Star Treks” in terms of what makes “Star Trek” different from other science fiction. It had a lot to do with ethics and morality and what it means to be part of something better, like Starfleet.
I’m very short-sighted about “Star Trek.” If it doesn’t help you consider a different point of view, or give you a unique perspective you hadn’t considered, or make you question your own views on things, then I don’t think it’s doing its job. Of course, it has to be entertaining. But if it’s just entertainment, then that’s not true “Star Trek.” “Star Trek” has to challenge you on some level. If you’re not thinking after watching an episode of “Star Trek,” it’s not my “Star Trek.”
Space.com: What are some of your childhood Christmas memories of favorite space toys you received while growing up in Los Angeles?
Roddenberry: My memories of Christmas are incredibly fond, because my mother was a Christmas fanatic. We had a huge 17 foot [5.2 meters] Christmas tree in our living room. She lit up the whole house. When Christmas came, it felt like Christmas to her.
I grew up, believe it or not, on “Star Wars,” “GI Joe” and “Transformers.” I didn’t collect a lot of “Star Wars” stuff, but I remember one year I got the Millennium Falcon, which I wish I still had today, because it’s such a treasured piece.
