Moon Day. Thirty-six years ago we got our collective act together and took one bold step forward, in peace for all humanity. Today should be a happy day, an exemplary anniversary of one thing we did right. In fact anniversaries pepper the month like craters on the moon; the Apollo-Soyuz rendezvous was thirty years ago this week, and the tenth anniversary of the first shuttle-space station (Mir) docking.
The celebrations take on a sad shade however, at today's passing of Jimmy Doohan. The second loss from the legendary crew, frankly the only engineer in Trek worth his salt, can't help but briefly dim the mood of all space aspirants whether in or out of the Trek family. The world indeed noticed the loss, and will long remember this miracle worker, the indestructible red shirt, and the real life hero who took an otherwise minor role to immortality at warp speed. And, in the end, he got his star!
He impressed everyone, and as much as Doohan loved the fans, the fans loved him all the more. His gifts to Star Trek both as character and actor, are honestly too numerous to mention confined in this column. Lift a stein in his memory, preferably filled with something green. "No bloody A, B, C, or D"- right. Klingons! He gave you language. Sound the call to the heavens, for a real warrior goes their way!
Scotty installed a depth of realism into TOS engineering no other series managed. In no time he could rig up a gas grenade or bargasfrat a cranky transporter back into action. Future series should not similarly fail this lesson, completely neglecting the strength a foundation of plausible engineering provides.
That sad shade grows even deeper with the frustrating non-launch of Discovery on the (what, second or third) eve of the shuttle's Return to Flight (though good looking out for the Enterprise/NASA documentary!). Our mission to the stars continues. Life aboard ISS must goes on patiently as the world below struggles to get the orbiter back into its role servicing the structure. The shuttle, like the Old Lady in TWOK, struggles against her age to recall bright beginnings. Yet there it sits.
Doohan's ashes are to follow the Great Bird's into space, a headstart on that outward path towards seeking out new life and new civilizations. Left behind is a space adventure in need of a miracle worker, or at the least his miracles. Vaya con Dios, Jimmy, may you rest in peace. We're really gonna miss you.