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William Shatner revealed that Blue Origin won't allow its astronauts to sell anything they take into space

Oct 13, 2021, 00:31 IST
Business Insider
William Shatner has a seat to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. Blue Origin
  • William Shatner revealed that Blue Origin bans astronauts from selling mementos they bring to space.
  • The TV star is set to launch into the edge of space on Wednesday morning in a Blue Origin rocket.
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Blue Origin allows astronauts to bring a small, blue bag of keepsakes into the edge of space with them, but they aren't allowed to sell any of the souvenirs, actor and soon-to-be astronaut William Shatner told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

"I've got family and friends collecting little mementos so I can bring it up. They stay in that little blue satchel. You can't sell it, can't monetize it," the "Star Trek" actor told Cooper in the October 6 interview.

Shatner is set to fly to space on Wednesday in Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, which carried Bezos and three others into space in July. Once the rocket reaches its peak, Shatner will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and will become the oldest person to go into space at 90 years old.

Blue Origin's competitor, Virgin Galactic, employs a similar policy, which bans astronauts from monetizing the souvenirs they take into space and requires all mementos to fit in the astronauts' flight suits.

"This is for your little purposes," Shatner said about the keepsakes. "I've got three or four little trinkets from people that will go up in space."

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While it's unknown what objects Shatner will take into space, Jeff Bezos brought Amelia Earhart's flight goggles and a medallion from the first hot air balloon flight with him on New Shepard's flight.

"Our terms prohibit people from selling anything they fly on board with them," a Blue Origin spokesperson told collectSPACE. "The terms prohibiting this are included in one of the documents astronauts are required to sign before they fly on New Shepard."

Blue Origin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Shatner has said he's excited to embark on a spaceflight after playing Captain Kirk on "Star Trek" for many years.

"I've heard about space for a long time now," Shatner said in Blue Origin's press release. "I'm taking the opportunity to see it for myself. What a miracle."

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The space company has recently faced controversy over allegations of sexism in a toxic workplace, and employees published an open letter in September expressing concerns over the rocket's safety.

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