Why is hawking in a wheelchair

Thanks to Richard Branson, in when Stephen was 65 years old, he got to take the trip of a lifetime: heading off to experience zero-gravity. While floating in space, Stephen ditched his chair and even managed to do backflips! Of course, this being Stephen, he wanted more — and publilcy declared his ultimate goal: to travel into space. Previous Back. Video player This dialog pays embedded videos in a popup window. Hawking's voice was developed by Dennis Klatt, a US scientist who based it on his own speech.

Hawking had famously rejected all ideas of an afterlife. He had been diagnosed with motor neuron disease in his 20s, which meant he spent much of his life in a wheelchair. For his friends and family the wheelchair was central to his identity, which would now most likely have an afterlife.

Mary the Great. It was announced earlier this month that Hawking's ashes will be buried near the grave of Isaac Newton, another famous British scientist, during a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey in London on June Facebook Twitter Linkedin EMail. Start a Conversation. Follow us on. He expanded scientific thinking about black holes and the origins of the universe and attained celebrity status, writing best-selling books and guest starring on "The Simpsons.

A script from one of his appearances on the animated TV show sold for 6, pounds in the sale of 22 Hawking items, while a collection of his medals and awards raised , pounds.