'Oh, My': Warp into Zero-G with 'Star Trek' Star George Takei

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Actor George Takei.

He's flown across the universe on the USS Enterprise. Now, you have a chance to fly with "Star Trek" star George Takei, who played "Sulu" in the iconic sci-fi series, and experience zero gravity in a special plane.

For just $6,500 a ticket (plus tax), 20 lucky fans will get to experience weightlessness along with the "Star Trek" actor for up to 30 seconds at a time. The flight, which leaves Las Vegas on Aug. 4, will fly a series of parabolas, causing attendees to float like astronauts when the plane plunges down from the peak of each parabola.

"[H]aving George Takei on board makes it a truly special experience," Terese Brewster, president and chief operating officer of Zero Gravity Corp., which operates the flights, said in a statement. "This will be an extraordinary opportunity for people to feel like they are in space while sharing that experience with someone who helped ignite our fascination for space exploration."

The company partnered with Roddenberry Adventures, an adventure travel company led by Rod Roddenberry (son of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry), to produce the flight. The "Star Trek" franchise is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with exhibits and special events around the world, not to mention the release of the franchise's latest movie in July.

The flight will take place on board a specially modified Boeing 727 called "G-Force One." Passengers will get to float like International Space Station astronauts, as well as experience simulations of lunar gravity (as the Apollo astronauts did) and Martian gravity (where NASA hopes to bring astronauts next).

And if that experience weren't enough, ticket holders will also get to talk to Sulu himself about his intergalactic experiences. Takei will be available beforehand to talk with everyone, but in "standard gravity" only, company representatives said in the statement.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace