Remains of James Doohan Lost in New Mexico

caffiend666 writes "According to a Space.com news article the cremated remains of 200 people were lost in the mountains after their trip to space. 'The search for the UP Aerospace payload of experiments and the cremated remains of some 200 people — including "Scotty" of Star Trek fame, as well as pioneeering NASA Mercury astronaut, Gordon Cooper — continues within rugged New Mexico mountain landscape.' Is it just me, or does it seem appropriate that they lost the landing party? Here's to a safe recovery!"

Comments

No problem.

[ScrewMaster]

Spock will figure out the only logical place it could be.

Re:No problem.

[srmalloy]

I guess the engines really couldn't take it...

Re:No problem.

[novus ordo]

Keith Richards' nose?

Re:No problem.

[Miseph]

Not to be an ass about your dead friend... but seriously, relax. Suck as it may, he's gone, and there's no sense in worrying he might have been injured, or that he's offended.

Besides, I'd expect that if your buddy wanted to be launched into space, he'd have a sense of humor about this sort of thing.

Re:No problem.

[lordmatthias215]

If I had to be lost somewhere, it'd be the land of Latinas and tequila.

Sounds a whole heck of a lot like the New Mexico I know...

Re:No problem.

[McFadden]

And in that vein...

I wouldn't worry about looking for Doohan. Just wait a few weeks and he'll show up on eBay.

Clever...

[DoofusOfDeath]

He *knew* the Nexus was going to go through that exact point.

Obvious

[Anonymous Coward]

He was always wearing a red shirt. It was inevitable that he would be lost.

Re:Obvious

[Infoport]

no, it is only the new crewmen in red shirts who are doomed. If you have a nickname, you are pretty much safe.

and being Ensign something, well you might as well leave your good boots at home for someone else.

Re:Obvious

[solitas]

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_expendab ility.jpg

Raise your hands

[suv4x4]

Who else thinks the whole idea is kinda retarded? I mean, in the beginning I thought the ashes of those people will be dispersed in space, which was very strong as a symbol and a ceremony, of sorts.

But carry them in space and land them (and now .. to lose them)? What the hell was the effin point of this whole thing?

Re:Raise your hands

[BlargIAmDead]

I think the point was to see how the remains of several cremated people reacted to zero g conditions. We now now that when subjected to these certain conditions they gain enough intelligence to outsmart NASA :)

Re:Raise your hands

[Saeger]

*shrug* Most cultures are still obsessed with the mind's dead vessel; that's not going to change overnight.

IMO, both cremation & cemeteries are a huge waste of resources. When I finally get around to writing my Will, it'll include something to the effect: "If my pattern of mind is beyond repair, drop my naked nutrient-rich matter into a vertical hole and plant a tree. I forbid energy-wastful cremation, and burial in a rip-off casket in a drab cemetery surrounded by giant obelisk phallic symbols..." Of course, there's probably some business-friendly laws which says that's illegal.

Re:Raise your hands

[prelelat]

to make money, of course. it was a private enterprise. I can't tell if that was a pun or not.

Either way good call.

Re:Raise your hands

[value_added]

"If my pattern of mind is beyond repair, drop my naked nutrient-rich matter into a vertical hole and plant a tree. I forbid energy-wastful cremation, and burial in a rip-off casket in a drab cemetery surrounded by giant obelisk phallic symbols..." Of course, there's probably some business-friendly laws which says that's illegal.

I had this in mind when I chose to bury two of my dogs in the backyard. Looking back on the experience (I ended up with two small plaques and planting some flowers and shrubs), I don't regret my decision. I could write an essay on the subject, but it should suffice to say it just seemed like the right thing to do. From every point of view.

Whether the above is legal, I don't know. My guess is that it isn't. Once upon a time people (at least those who owned land) had family cemeteries. Maybe someone here who knows more about such traditions could enlighten us. At any rate, today, at least here in California, burying someone on private land, irrespective of whether you own one acre of land or 1000 acres, was made illegal sometime in the 1920s (?).

It's kind of shame, really. Obviously, we can't all just around burying people just anywhere (broadband deployment is complicated enough), but there's something to be said for being buried in the dirt, and having someone come along and plant some grass or a tree where you were laid to rest.

Recyling at its best.

Re:Raise your hands

[Mr2cents]

Well spoken. It's an industry. The one thing I remember when my grandfather died (it was an insanely emotional period - my other grandfather had just died a week earlier, both unexpected), the undertakers were there in no time and asked my grandmother: "do you want him to be buried in first class or second class ground?" (literally). What is she supposed to say at such a time? Of course she chose "first class", thinking she would honour him that way. In reality, she just paid a lot of money.. for what? I was quite disgusted.

Re:Raise your hands

[Anonymous Coward]

I had this in mind when I chose to bury two of my dogs in the backyard.

How did you get them to stay there? Mine always dig themselves out.

clear throat, cue theremin

[circletimessquare]

Rural New Mexico, the final frontier. These are the remains of James Doohan. Its five-minute mission: to explore cactus and scrub mesas; to not burn up and burst its canister; to boldly go where no cremated remains have gone before.

oooooo waaaahhh, wah wah wah wah wah....

Not again,

[Anonymous Coward]

This is the second time he's put himself into a transporter loop waiting for rescue.
Clevernickname better get off his blog and go get him.

Re:Sad :(

[DumbSwede]

In the game of life we are ALL wearing red shirts

Damn it Jim!

[nihilistcanada]

I am a doctor not an orbital scientist!

Re:what

[wizardforce]

If the rocket did what it was supposed to why would the remains and other crap have come back to earth?

because it was never meant to leave Earth completely, it was SUPPOSED to come back down

His Last Words

[Hoi Polloi]

"Yah c'nt bury me, yoo got na ashes!"

Wow, they weren't retarded.

[Actually, I do RTFA]

They did use a tracking becon. As far as they can tell, it is still working, to a couple km (diameter) circle. Unfortunately it landed in mountainous terrain, and "go[ing] towards the signal" is a physical impossiblity. (Okay, not impossible, but quite difficult). Also, the terrain is messing with the signals.

Next week (no hurry I suppose), the manufacturers of the tracking device are bringing more sensitive equipment and more experienced searchers to search for it.

Searching in the wrong place...

[ChangeOnInstall]

Has anyone checked ebay yet?

Breaking news...

[fireman sam]

The ship has been found, but unfortunately everyone on board have been confirmed dead. :(

Obligatory Bones Quote:

[rts008]

He's dead, Jim!

Not exactly

[kahrytan]

  They should launched Doohan and Cooper into deep space. They deserve better then to be shoved back to this stinkin planet.

Re:Someone failed grade 5 math

[afaik_ianal]

... and somebody failed physics.

If they followed your suggestion, they probably wouldn't find it. The signals in mountainous terrain bounce all over the place.

Even if it were that simple to locate, you've still got to get in there to pick it up.