Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Michael, Atlanta, GA — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:09:15 GMT

Rest in peace, Scotty, Gordo. In your own ways, you helped us live a dream.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

John, Kans. — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:59:50 GMT

Mr. Boyle,

I must thank you for putting this blog together. I know, I know, this is a job and source of profit (somehow) for a corporation, so I understand it isn't meant as a public service or charitable effort. Nonetheless, it is so wonderful to have found access to a resource on all things cosmological, for free, that tends to hit so many interesting topics. My childhood passion for astronomy, chemistry, and biology never ended, I traded an engineering degree for a business career (believe me, nobody reading this wants me engineering anything...unless stories of downed airplanes and falling buildings are lovable). Thus my days are filled with non-science outside of what my company does.

So I go here. And I read postings about ice on Mars, string theory, and trips to inner space. I have no further time to get deeper...so this is a welcome diversion with just enough meat to satisfy my curiousity and open my eyes, but not so much that I lose interest because I'm out of study.

But I really want to thank you for the high profile, public access nature of the position of this blog on msnbc.com - it puts this sometimes odd material in a very public position, inviting the uninitiated to think "big and small".

And finally, I want to thank you for the occasional postings of amateur astronomy tools - if you could do more of that, I might be more prepared for next year, when I take my kids out to rural Kansas for the first time to look at the moon, planets and stars. So if an astronomy expert has some sound advice on the best (affordable...which is subjective I know) available tools and gadgets for seeing craters on the moon, keep 'em coming!

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Bill — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:36:32 GMT

Godspeed Scotty and Gordo!! They were an inspiration to us all

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

David — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:37:01 GMT

Rest in peace Scotty and Gordo. You were an inspiration to the world.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Bill, on the fringe as promised — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:36:08 GMT

El Gordo! May your spirit enjoy the loft. Thanks for everything.

Wild Bill

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Alan Boyle — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 02:02:02 GMT

Amen to that ... I'm so glad Bill found this post as a way to pay tribute to Gordon Cooper. Jimmy Doohan, of course, deserves the tributes as well ... but in some quarters, Gordo hasn't been as much in the spotlight. I never knew him personally, but Gordon Cooper seems to have been among the most original characters in the early astronaut corps - a laid-back, cocky fighter jock who was something of a misfit when it came to authority, and a UFO spotter to boot. If Dennis Quaid's portrayal of him in "The Right Stuff" is anything close to reality (and Quaid met with Cooper while preparing for the role), Gordo was quite a guy. Godspeed to all those who took that "memorial spaceflight" today.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Dave, Arlington, VA — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 03:52:09 GMT

It was my pleasure to meet James Doohan in the 80s and think this is a fantastic way to appreciate and tribute the legacy.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Robert Duncan Inver Grove Hgts Minnesota — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 06:22:46 GMT

It was an Honor to meet James Doohan at the world of weels at the St.Paul civic center in the 70s and once more later on in my life Scotty keep the EnterPrise running for 3 seasons and 7 movies Thank you James Doohan for the ride you gave us so sit back in Heaven and injoy the ride.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Ralph Olsen, Portland, Maine — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:02:08 GMT

God speed to Gordo and James..They were American heroes and will always be remembered..They can rest in their own ship at this time

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Jim Murray, Phoenix Arizona — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:04:34 GMT

Godspeed Scotty and Gordon Cooper. Your flights in space and flights of fantasy have inspired generations. Many of us have lived our dream through you, so may you now rest in peace on your way to your next great adventure.

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Carolyne Wilson ,Eagan MN — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:27:39 GMT

Scotty and Gordon....when I go to bed tonight I'll be thinking of you guys and what a great adventure, you made my life and my Dad's....Safe traveling to you!

Beaming up Scotty ... and Gordo

Ron Cochrane, Lisbon. NH — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:17:48 GMT

As a lifelong devotee of Star Trek, I was saddened by the demise of James Doohan as well as Deforest Kelly and, of course, Gene Roddenberry.I will always remember Scotty with great affection being a fellow Scot myself. Rest in peace and when my time arrives, I hope he will respond when I ask him to "Beam me up" to his place in the heavens.