As previously reported, the family of James Doohan — who died Wednesday at the age of 85 — intends to fulfill the actor's wishes and send his remains into space, and that could happen as early as September.

Space Services, Inc., of Houston, Texas, conducts "Memorial Spaceflights" for such requests. A launch is tentatively scheduled in September from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, on a Falcon 1 rocket.

Doohan's ashes will accompany those of his behind-the-scenes colleague John Meredyth Lucas, a producer, director and writer on the Original Series, who died in 2002. Lucas wrote "The Changeling," "Patterns of Force" and other scripts, plus he directed "The Ultimate Computer" and "The Enterprise Incident," and did both functions on "Elaan of Troyius" (which prominently featured the "Scotty" character).

In 1997, a portion of the ashes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry — who died in 1991 — were shot into orbit on such a spaceflight by the same firm.

The portion of Doohan's ashes not sent into space will be scattered over the ocean, said Steven Stevens, Doohan's agent and long-time family friend. Specific plans for that ceremony have not yet been set.

We will keep you informed as this story evolves.

In related news, a community in Scotland plans to memorialize Doohan — though he was an Irish-Canadian who simply played a Scotsman. The council of West Lothian has revealed plans to erect a plaque in the town of Linlithgow, which they believe is the birthplace of Montgomery Scott in the year 2222. (The year is based on a line in "Relics," thus considered "canon," but the hometown is apocryphal.)

"Scotty was a key character and Star Trek made James Doohan a household name," said councillor Willie Dunn, a Trek fan. "Linlithgow was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and the town attracts thousands of people from all over the world every year. A local link with Star Trek could help attract even more visitors to West Lothian in the future. I think erecting a plaque is an excellent idea."

The original story can be found at this BBC News link.