‘Star Trek’ and NASA have intertwined legacies – the show championed diversity and inspired generations of real space scientists

60 years of ‘Star Trek’: A cultural anthropologist on how the show’s “infinite diversity in infinite combinations” conception helped shape NASA’s vision of the future.

By: Deana L. Weibel, Grand Valley State University , The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 8, 2026

Words: 1,079

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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By Deana L. Weibel, Grand Valley State University

“Star Trek” began as a television series but grew into a cultural phenomenon.

When it premiered in 1966, no one could have predicted that it would lead to more than a dozen spinoff shows, more than a dozen movies and one of the most enduring fandoms in popular culture.

“Star Trek” is also unusual for its close connections to NASA, both in its storylines …

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