It's important for space travel to have spokespersons like William Shatner. He's expressive and genuine. He's an actor of course, but how much is that and how much is personal is beside the point. He can do more to promote the 'hearts and minds' of the world than any number of oligarchs.
i found richard branson's reaction to his space flight experience interesting too - the man is usually very polished and is the poster child for sound bitey pr, but the post landing interview showed him almost babbling incoheretly - it was obvious he had had an incredible and hard to define or articulate experience.
