Fans of Star Trek can take a Zero G flight with William Shatner. There is no denying that Star Trek has some pretty dedicated fans. Not many series are so popular as to continue for so long, have five spin-offs - including the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery - and 13 movies. Not to mention yearly conventions, its own Las Vegas attraction that lasted for over a decade, and entire documentaries about the most extreme of fans. Ever since the original series first aired in 1966, the stars of the series have been going to conventions and fan events, never quite leaving Star Trek entirely behind.
William Shatner - aka Captain James T. Kirk - was not always the most appreciative of the fandom and the significance of his role in Star Trek. But as he's gotten older, he's embraced the legacy of Kirk, continuing to appear at events, making and popping up in various documentaries about Star Trek, and even parodying himself and the character in film and television. In 2011 he even adapted the famous opening narration from the show into a wake up call for the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
And now Shatner is offering a chance for fans to have the experience of traveling in space with him - in a manner of speaking. According to ZERO-G, Roddenberry Adventures is teaming up with Zero Gravity Corporation and offering a Zero Gravity flight, with Shatner also on board.
The tickets are not cheap, and there are only a limited number of seats available. But a few very lucky fans will experience the next best thing to actually boldly going where no one has gone before, with Captain Kirk sitting right among them. The Zero Gravity Corporation released a statement about the once in a lifetime event:
As thousands of Star Trek fans descend upon Las Vegas for the annual convention, Shatner and his crew for the day will embark on their own mission. Talented pilots at the helm of G-FORCE ONE®, ZERO-G’s specially modified Boeing 727, will perform a series of parabolic arcs to create the exhilarating feeling of floating through space. At the top of each arc, Flyers will soar through the plane in a floating playground, perform effortless tricks and flips and share a world known only by a small fraction of the population. Once back on terra firma, participants will have a chance to mingle with the Shatner during a meet and great session.
Tickets for the flight are $9,950 per seat plus a 5% tax and will include a ZERO-G flight suit, Regravitation Celebration, certificate of weightless completion and photos and video of the unique experience shared with the star. To purchase a spot, visit www.gozerog.com.
Zero Gravity Corporation is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of space accessible to the public. ZERO-G is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless flight in the U.S. for the general public; entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive markets; non-profit research and education sectors; and the government. ZERO-G’s attention to detail, excellent service and quality of experience combined with its exciting history has set the foundation for the most exhilarating adventure-based tourism. For more information about ZERO-G, please visit www.gozerog.com.
The flight will take place on August 4, during the 16th Annual Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas (which runs from August 2-6 this year). And fans who can purchase the tickets are not the only ones who are excited about the opportunity. Shatner released a statement confirming his own feelings about the chance to feel like he is actually in outer space, after so many years of acting as though he was traveling through the galaxy:
“Going weightless will turn a dream into reality. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to actually explore the Final Frontier and now I have the opportunity to experience zero gravity firsthand. It will be an incredible adventure.”
Of course, on Star Trek the ships were able to create their own gravity, so the experience will not be exactly like traveling on The Enterprise. But it will give the impression that the people on the flight are on an actual, modern day spacecraft. Since there are only a limited number of tickets, fans who are interested - and have a spare $10,000 for just such an adventure - should purchase their seats immediately for the chance to go to the final frontier with Captain James T. Kirk.
Next: Star Trek Discovery Trailer Breakdown
Source: ZERO-G