UP Aerospace rocket successfully reaches space

Today marked a huge milestone for Spaceport America as an UP Aerospace rocket successfully reached space carrying the ashes of about 200 people.

The success comes after a series of delays and a September launch that failed to reach space. Since then, company officials have been working to correct a flaw in the rocket’s design by adding another tail fin.

“This launch has christened Spaceport America,” said Economic Development Rick Homans, who will begin his new position as executive director of Spaceport Authority on Tuesday. “Today is all about entrepreneurs blazing a commercial path into space. We are proud that all systems worked successfully and safely today for UP Aerospace.”

The launch sent the cremated remains of James Doohan, who played “Scotty” on Star Trek, and Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper into space. It was the first successful launch from the spaceport.

The launch took place at 8:56 a.m. – close to the planned time of 8:30 a.m., according to the Associated Press. The rocket touched down on White Sands Missile Range shortly after 9 a.m.

People paid $495 each to send the ashes of loved ones into space.

I couldn’t be there because I had to attend today’s Democratic Party convention in Las Cruces. (I’ll have a story on that in a bit.) This is a politics site, after all. I’m hoping to have more coverage and video of the launch, if anyone shot it and posts it on the Internet, later this weekend or Monday.