# William Shatner heads off to the final frontier (space, not death) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [October 4, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868 "2021-10-04T15:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/142 "2021-10-14T14:00:08Z")
Someone should ask how much Shatner was paid to fly on Blue Origin. This was a promotional windfall for them, and Shatner doesn’t do anything like that for free. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/143 "2021-10-14T14:05:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Someone should ask how much Shatner was paid to fly on Blue Origin. This was a promotional windfall for them, and Shatner doesn’t do anything like that for free I guess. I do think that he would do this free, though. It was a huge opportunity. Did I see a reporter ask him, “Hey, you said you were afraid, but you are Captain Kirk? Why were you afraid?” Shatner answered, “Because Captain Kirk is a fictional character and I’m flesh and blood.” ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/144 "2021-10-14T14:08:07Z")
I think Captain Kirk would’ve been bloody terrified, a barely functioning rocket, all with very primitive technology, not a single shield, no teleporter to beam out if things go pear shaped… He would’ve done it anyway, because that’s how he rolls. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/145 "2021-10-14T17:40:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I just watched the playback and listened to Bill after he came back. He talked to Jeff Bezos for awhile and honestly, it was probably the most moved I’ve ever been watching Shatner in anything. It was really powerful. A speech worthy of Capt. James Tiberius Kirk himself, only it wasn’t penned by a scriptwriter. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/146 "2021-10-14T17:44:41Z")
Did he…readitin…his Shatner way? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/147 "2021-10-14T18:48:07Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > A speech worthy of Capt. James Tiberius Kirk himself, only it wasn’t penned by a scriptwriter. It seemed pretty natural. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/148 "2021-10-14T18:54:39Z")
Hadn’t heard of the overview effect until Shatner’s comments. > **[Overview effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_effect)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The overview effect is a cognitive shift\[Note 1\] reported by some astronauts while viewing the Earth from space. Researchers have characterized the effect as "a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities, precipitated by a particularly striking visual stimulus". The most prominent common aspects of personally experiencing the Earth from space are appreciation and perception of beauty, unexpected and even overwhelming emotion, and an increased s... ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/149 "2021-10-14T19:49:50Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The woman he left his wife for and God, I hope this is just a very unflattering picture. Moderating: this really isn’t the place for misogynistic assumptions that a woman’s only value is her appearance. Everyone please drop this topic. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/150 "2021-10-14T19:54:07Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@N9IWP](#): > > > > Several folks complained that Bezos did the champagne spray before Shatner was done talking (I agree fairly well) > > The whole thing was awkward enough that I kind of loved it. Bezos left him standing there and came back. I think he did a good job listening once he finished that champagne thing. I got the impression Bill was a bit put out because he really wanted to say something but ended up being ignored (at least temporarily). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/151 "2021-10-14T20:24:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I got the impression Bill was a bit put out because he really wanted to say something but ended up being ignored (at least temporarily). Yeah, that was indeed an awkward moment. I don’t know whether Bezos was just insensitive or (more likely, I think) just excited and trying to deal with multiple things at once. Bill did get to have his say and I have to agree that it was eloquently expressed. Actually, The Shat seemed on the verge of tears at one point. I imagine the profoundness of the experience combined with what must have been relief at surviving a fairly risky adventure would have been a psychological double-whammy. There was also a more humourous moment when Bezos pinned whatever Blue Origin uses as astronaut wings to the crew. When it came to Shatner, Bezos had trouble and complained that the pin was bent (and dammit, no one took the cue to say “shouldn’t have bought it from Amazon Basics”). Shatner actually said something like “never mind, it doesn’t matter”, obviously having many other things on his mind at that moment. Bezos did eventually find another pin. Apparently the problem with pinning the astronaut wings was that the outfits they were wearing were made of some type of Kevlar-based material. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/152 "2021-10-15T06:18:11Z")
here’s George Takei’s response > **[George Takei disses William Shatner's trip to space: 'He's boldly going where...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/star-trek-george-takei-william-shatner-feud-space-185536441.html)** > > William Shatner is the oldest person to ever go to space — much to the delight of George Takei. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/153 "2021-10-15T14:27:49Z")
> **[William Shatner says Prince William is 'missing the point' of space tourism |...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/15/business/william-shatner-prince-william-space/index.html)** > > William Shatner is firing a rhetorical rocket back at Prince William after the future king criticized space tourism. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/154 "2021-10-15T15:45:43Z")
Haters gotta hate. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/155 "2021-10-15T17:31:23Z")
… And pissers and moaners gotta piss and moan. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/156 "2021-10-15T17:49:44Z")
I guess I understand that George Takei dislikes Shatner a lot, but does he really have to chime in on this in a negative way? Of the two, I definitely would consider Takei the smarter and more gentlemen-like. I think if George had said, “We’ve had our differences and will never be real friends, but I want to congratulate Bill on going to space and thank him for his words about saving the earth”…that would have been a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/157 "2021-10-15T20:13:25Z")
Anyway, as I said earlier: > [@cochrane](#): > > I wonder if George Takei is thinking, “Curse you, Bill. You’ll do anything to get attention.” To bad that Takei is more interested in keeping the feud going than in being happy for the man for reaching space. Or maybe he’s just upset that Lt. Sulu isn’t the icon that Capt. Kirk is. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/158 "2021-10-15T23:41:08Z")
I’ve always thought that Prince William is pretty smart. But evidently he’s rather shortsighted in some ways. Even if Bezos _et al_ are doing what they’re doing for frivolous reasons, the knowledge gained is valuable. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/159 "2021-10-15T23:51:15Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Or maybe he’s just upset that Lt. Sulu isn’t the icon that Capt. Kirk is. I think he probably has some legitimate reasons to be upset with Bill over the decades, but even silence is better than slagging him off. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/160 "2021-10-17T22:01:42Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > “Oh, my.” > > I feel for Wally Funk. She’s the current record-holder for oldest human into space, and she’s a trained astronaut candidate who’s getting upstaged by a PR stunt. > > Although at this point, “PR stunt” is most of what Blue Origin is visibly doing. Her flight was a PR stunt too. And as far as PR stunts go SpaceX’s are much more technically challenging. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868/161 "2021-10-18T01:22:25Z")
I’ve seen Shatner interviewed about the ‘feud’, and he claims he doesn’t even know what it’s about, and has nothing against Takei. He wouldn’t say anything at all disparaging about him even when provoked. Shatner has a big ego, and he has probably dominated screen time on his shows or gave supporting actors less attention than others would have. Maybe that just rubbed Takei the wrong way. Takei strikes me as someone who also has a big ego and always resented that he wasn’t a bigger star on the show or in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-shatner-heads-off-to-the-final-frontier-space-not-death/951868.md?page=9)