DNA From Star Trek’s Original Doctor Will Ride to the Final Frontier

A memorial spaceflight is paying tribute to the cast and crew of the original "Star Trek" TV show.

Next year's "Enterprise Flight" will feature a sample of DeForest Kelley's genetic material. The hair sample that was preserved after Kelley's death was the one that was used to extract his genetic material.

The cremated remains of dozens of people will be sent into deep space later this year or early next year by the enterprise flight. The first launch of the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2019. It is a Spock fan.

The prime directive for the Vulcan launch is to send Astrobotic's Peregrine lander to the lunar surface for a NASA-supported mission, but after the Centaur has done its job, it will go into a grave yard around the sun.

In addition to Kelley, the Star Trek personages were represented on the flight. Just a couple of weeks ago, the remains of Nichols and his family were added to the manifest.

Today is Star Trek Day and Charles Chafer is the co- founder and CEO of Celestis. He said in a news release that it was notable that DeForest Kelley was added to the flight. Without a ship's doctor, a mission to deep space wouldn't be complete.

Carolyn asked a family friend, Kris M. Smith, to cut off a couple of the actor's hair because she wanted to keep his memory alive. Smith kept the hair sample after Carolyn died. As the news of the Enterprise Flight spread, Smith reached out to a mutual contact and offered to give the sample to Celestis to be included on the flight.

I gave the lock of hair to De so he could join his shipmates on their journey into the stars. Smith said that the mission didn't feel complete without the doctor on board. I believe De would have liked to go hopping with his cast and crew. Second star to the right and straight on the morning. It was easy to love you, we will never do it again.

Trek fans can submit their names to be included on the flight as tiny lines of text that are laser-etched onto an inch-wide nickel disc. For a fee, you can add a personal message or photo.