For all his experience portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, William Shatner appeared awestruck as he orbited the Earth on Wednesday.
“No description can equal this,” the Jewish 90 year-old said as he caught a glimpse of the Earth at apogee and floated weightlessly in a clip posted online by Jeff Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin.
Mr Shatner described the 11-minute flight aboard the firm's New Shepard rocket as the "most profound experience" as he became the oldest man to have flown into space.
His capsule reached the boundary between outer space and the Earth's atmosphere and travelled three times faster than speed of sound.
“I am overwhelmed,” the American actor said appearing visibly emotional after touching down in west Texas.
A video of his exchange with Mr Bezos who greeted him at the landing site was recorded by CNBC.
Mr Shatner, who admitted initially feeling “a little nervous” ahead of the flight, said “it would be so important for everybody to have that experience through one means or another.”
He said, “It hasn't got anything to do with the little green men and the blue orb. It has to do with the enormity and the quickness and the suddenness of life and death.”
