Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 05-06-2009 11:08 PM               

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There's another thread about the effects in general of sci-fi on interest in real space. I am now, and have been for a long time, a fan of both. With the upcoming release of the new Star Trek movie I thought I'd ask if Star Trek specifically had any effect on your interest in space, or vice versa.

I have vague memories of watching the first episode of Star Trek in 1966 when I was 9 years old. I also have equally vague memories of watching Gemini launches which must date to nearly the same time. As a kid, I never had the slightest problem telling fact from fiction. In my mind Trek and real space went hand in hand. Trek was the promise, and what was happening with NASA allowed me to be in at the ground floor so to speak. One "was", and the other what it could someday be.

Over the years, the two have crossed paths now and then, the naming the shuttle Enterprise, V'ger, James Doohan's ashes, the images of Columbia's break-up, and the wonderfully mind-blowing Star Trek exhibit photos posted a while back. Now 40 odd years later, that same connection between Trek (the original series) and real space exploration is just as strong was it ever was.

I'd love to hear if any of you have similar feelings for Star Trek and it's influence on your interest in space exploration.

Posts: 360
From: Greenville, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2006

posted 05-06-2009 11:20 PM            

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I probably would have once called my self a trekkie before I went to a convention one time and decided I was not really THAT into it.

But I will say it had a major influence on my views of space exploration and even my moral viewpoints. I want my girls to become trek fans too... it teaches in a very special way.

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 05-07-2009 11:13 AM               

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Well, there's this:

Trek hasn't had any effect on my interest in space, although I did attend a ST convention before I got into the latter, simply because my brothers were going. I got into Trek - watching The Next Generation - because it was the thing to do in college, either while laundry was washing or because someone else had the TV on.

Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted 05-07-2009 11:23 AM               

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In the '70s I was a card-carrying member of S.T.A.R., the Star Trek Association for Revival, so I'd have to say I was a Trekkie.

As far as a connection to the space program goes, my father worked at TRW in the '60s and his job was to use scanning electron microscopy to inspect circuit boards for manned and un-manned spacecraft. The Star Trek episode "Operation: Annihilate!" was filmed at TRW and dad was there to watch. Knowing how much I loved the show, he couldn't resist telling me that my hero Mr. Spock had holes in the soles of his boots!

Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002