Star Trek Day 2021: Celebrate 55 years of Trek with live panels and more tonight
Fifty-five years ago today a science fiction franchise was born, beaming itself into the hearts of fans around the world. We're talking about "Star Trek," of course, and tonight (Sept. 8) you can celebrate alongside Trek's makers Paramount+ with an evening of panels and more online. The first episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series" debuted on Sept. 8, 1966, introducing the world to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and their crewmates as they explored the galaxy on the USS Enterprise. Despite being canceled after three seasons, the show led by the late Gene Roddenberry spawned 13 films and at least 10 series (with more coming) so that there is more Trek on TV via Paramount+ today than ever before. Tonight's two-hour Star Trek Day celebration begins at 8:30 p.m. EDT (5:30 p.m. PT/0030 GMT) and will take place at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. You can watch live a few ways: The event will be livestreamed at StarTrek.com/Day, as well as on the streaming service Paramount+ and on Paramount+'s Twitch channel. A live orchestra led by Jeff Russo, composer of the themes for "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard," will perform throughout the night.
space.comHow George Takei of 'Star Trek' faced down discrimination
Related: What 'Star Trek' has taught us about diversity"My parents got me up together with my brother, a year younger, and my baby sister was an infant. With "Star Trek," Takei was excited at the prospect of steady employment, he told the online panel. This allowed the "Star Trek" creator to include metaphors for 1960s American life in a futuristic setting. Happily, the diversity tradition continues as "Star Trek Discovery" is about to introduce its first transgender and nonbinary characters in October , along with premiering a new Black star. The first openly gay starring characters on "Star Trek" finally came in 2017, with gay actors Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets) and Wilson Cruz (Hugh Culber) who played a couple in "Star Trek: Discovery."
space.comPhoto gallery: Eight of the strangest things sent into space
Here's a list of some of the more bizarre things humans have launched into space. (Image credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center)All About Space This article is brought to you by All About Space. (Image credit: NASA)When humans made the journey into space, it wasn't long before music followed. This may seem peculiar, but it has been the last wish of certain people who feel a strong affinity with the night sky and space to have their remains launched into space a space burial. (Image credit: NASA)"Star Wars" has inspired generations of sci-fi fandom, still present and popular today.
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