“He really is one of the founders of this industry,” says Tom Shelley, president of Space Adventures (Garriott has left the company). “He’s helped to break down the barriers between professional and private space flight. And he should be thanked for that foresight and vision.” Shelley pauses, then notes, “As a Star Trek fan, he took up the ashes of the actor who played Scotty [James Doohan] on behalf of the family. He didn’t need to talk about it publicly to get satisfaction because that’s just the kind of guy he is.”

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