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September 8, 2026

Astronaut on ISS celebrates 60 years of 'Star Trek' with prop badge

Sixty years after television audiences first tuned in to see the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, an astronaut on board the International Space Station has paid tribute to "Star Trek" by flying the Delta badge of the franchise's latest fictional captain.

October 4, 2021

Star Trek's William Shatner to fly to space for real on Blue Origin's New Shepard

William Shatner is about to go where he has never gone before — at least not in real life. The actor, who originated the role of James T. Kirk, the captain of the starship Enterprise on the TV series "Star Trek," is set to launch into space on Blue Origin's New Shepard.

September 8, 2016

'Star Trek' and NASA: 50 years of fictional and factual space history crossovers

On Sept. 8, 1966, as Americans sat down to see the first episode of a new science fiction television series, NASA was making its final preparations to launch its ninth two-man trek into "the final frontier." NASA and "Star Trek" have been crossing paths for 50 years.

May 4, 2015

To boldly brew: Astronaut uses ISSpresso to make first cup of coffee in space

Space: the final frontier — for coffee. Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, dressed in a "Star Trek" captain's uniform, became the first person in space to sip from a freshly-brewed cup of coffee, using the International Space Station's new espresso machine.

January 21, 2015

Patrick Stewart to narrate NASA's 'trek' to Mars in giant-screen 'Journey to Space'

An actor famous for his role commanding a fictional starship will narrate NASA's 'trek' to Mars in a giant-screen documentary. Patrick Stewart, who helmed the USS Enterprise on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," is lending his voice to "Journey to Space."

June 6, 2014

Astronaut's cloaked Klingon space patch: Star Trek-inspired emblem revealed

In a mirror universe right now, an alternate Steven Swanson is wearing a patch bearing the trefoil logo of the Klingon Empire. In this reality, NASA jettisoned the astronaut's Star Trek-inspired design.

April 27, 2012

Space shuttle Enterprise lands in New York for museum display

Space shuttle Enterprise, the prototype for NASA's orbiter fleet, is now a New Yorker. The original test shuttle, Enterprise flew into the Big Apple on top of a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

October 13, 2021

William Shatner lifts off on real space trek aboard Blue Origin rocket

William Shatner can now say he is an astronaut, and he played one on TV. The 90-year-old actor, who played Capt. Kirk on "Star Trek," became the oldest person to fly into space launching with three crewmates on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

May 2, 2017

Bid him up! William Shatner auctions 'Star Trek' figure flown on NASA mission

Space exploration and "Star Trek" fans take note: now may be your only chance to own an artifact from the real-life intersection of a NASA space mission and Capt. Kirk. William Shatner is auctioning his action figure flown on the Orion EFT-1 mission in 2014.

July 29, 2016

'Star Trek: Discovery': Is the new starship named for NASA's space shuttle?

Four years ago, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum swapped out NASA space shuttles, trading the orbiter Enterprise for its sister ship Discovery. Now "Star Trek," the inspiration for the earlier shuttle's name, has done the same.

April 13, 2015

'Behold the powerful Vulcan': ULA reveals new rocket system, name

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the company behind the Atlas and Delta rockets, unveiled Vulcan, its new launch vehicle system. The Vulcan rocket features new engines, a plan for reuse that involves mid-air recovery, and an upper stage enabling on-orbit operations.

December 1, 2014

Star Trek, Marvel and Apollo mementos launching on NASA's Orion test flight

Star Trek's Kirk, Marvel's Iron Man, Sesame Street's Slimey the Worm, and a T-Rex are set to launch together on the first test flight of NASA's next-generation spacecraft Orion. The eclectic 'crew' are representative of the mementos flying on the EFT-1 mission.

May 16, 2013

Did 'Star Trek' give rise to NASA's 'Space Shuttle'?

NASA's first space shuttle, the test orbiter Enterprise, was named after the starship on TV's "Star Trek" in response to fans staging a write-in campaign. But did the U.S. space agency's use of the term "space shuttle" for its orbiters also stem from the sci-fi series?

April 7, 2010

Klingon, cookies and class project arrive at space station with shuttle Discovery

A "flat" paper doll, a freshly-baked batch of wedding cookies, a cartoon dog, and embroidered patches inscribed with a sci-fi alien language are packed with the 17,000 pounds of supplies delivered by the space shuttle to the International Space Station.

September 8, 2026
Smithsonian

Star Trek 60th Anniversary

September 8 is the 60th anniversary of Star Trek. On September 8, 1966, the first airing Star Trek (CBS, 1966-69) in the United States took place, marking the beginning of one of the biggest sci-fi franchises of all time.

August 27, 2026
Star Trek

Star Trek Boldly Celebrates 60 Years: Everything You Need To Know for September 8

Events, Activities and Tributes Planned Around the World Include an International Space Station, London�s Science Museum and a Screening �Under the Stars� in Los Angeles.

August 18, 2025
NASA Video

Inspired Enterprise: How NASA, the Smithsonian, and the Aerospace Community Helped Launch Star Trek

This panel discusses not only who some of these influencers were, but also how these individuals and agencies helped inspire, legitimize and popularize the original series to help make Star Trek one of the most popular television shows of all time.

July 28, 2025
The Space Review

Inspiring Star Trek and NASA

Although some Star Trek fans may vaguely be aware of the show�s connections to NASA in the 1970s, Glen Swanson notes that the connections ran deeper and started far earlier.

June 4, 2024
NASA

55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures

The voyages of the Starship Enterprise came to a sudden and premature end on June 3, 1969, with the airing of the final episode of the Star Trek original television series. Ironically, the show's cancellation came just six weeks before humanity embarked on its first voyage to land on another celestial body.