Design Error Blamed for Loss of Ashes of ‘Star Trek’’s ‘Scotty’
A privately held rocket company on Wednesday blamed a design error for its latest failure to reach orbit, which caused the loss of three government satellites and human ashes, including the remains of astronaut Gordon Cooper and “Star Trek” actor James Doohan.
The two-stage Falcon 1 rocket, which blasted off from a Central Pacific atoll Saturday night, separated as planned on its way to space, but leftover thrust after engine cutoff caused the first stage to fall back and hit the second stage, according to Hawthorne-based SpaceX.
The rocket, containing the remains of 208 people, dropped in the Pacific and was not recovered.
The family of Doohan, who played Scotty on the television show “Star Trek,” could not be reached Wednesday night.
