William Shatner explains why his trip to space ‘felt like a funeral’: ‘I saw death and I saw life’

foxnews.com:

William Shatner made history when he became the oldest person to travel to space – but the experience left him in tears. In October 2021, the "Star Trek" alum embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with the help of Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin.The Amazon empire founder credited the actor with igniting his interest in space travel.

The 91-year-old was one of four crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the NS-18 mission. It took off from Launch Site One in West Texas.The Emmy winner recalled his experience in a new book titled "Boldly Go: Reflections on a life of Awe and Wonder." In it, Shatner wrote that his trip to space "was supposed to be a celebration." Instead, it "felt like a funeral." ‘Star Trek’ actor William Shatner (R) gestures as Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen looks on during a media availability on the landing pad of Blue Origin’s New Shepard after they flew into space on October 13, 2021, near Van Horn, Texas.

Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space on the 10-minute flight.They flew aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.  (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) "When I landed and came out of the spaceship, I was overwhelmed by a feeling and I started to weep," Shatner recalled to Fox News Digital. "I didn’t know what I was crying about.

And it took me a couple of hours to be by myself to figure out what’s the matter with me. And then I realized I was in grief for this beautiful world that I could see more clearly from up in space… This planet that took 5 billion years to evolve into what it is now.