STAR TREK'S STAR : ASTRONAUT SHATNER

Van Horn - Texas : Star Trek's Shatner becomes a real life astronaut.

Star Trek's William Shatner, one of science - fiction's  most recognizable characters, became a real life space traveler on Wednesday on Blue Origin's second human mission.

''It was unbelievable,'' said the 90-year-old Canadian, who was moved to tears after the 11-minute journey beyond the planet's atmosphere and back again to the Texas desert.

The New Shepard rocket took off from around 9:49 am [14:49 GMT] after experiencing two brief delays.

Shatner was joined by Blue Origin  executive Audrey Powers, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen, an Australian national, and Glen de Vries of Clinical research platform Medidata Solutions.

Company founder Jeff Bezos was on hand to greet the crew members as they climbed out of the capsule and were showered with applause and champagne. Like the 600 or so astronauts who have gone before him, Shatner marveled at the experience of weightlessness and the stunning view of Earth from space.

''What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. I'm so filled with emotion about what just happened,'' he told Bezos.

The mission was a replay of the company's maiden human flight in July, which included Bezos and was seen as a breakthrough moment for the nascent space tourism sector. [ Reuters ]