Star Trek has been one of the most successful science fiction franchises of all time. The show originally aired on TV in 1966, and has been a staple of television and film ever since. Here are some out-of-this-world facts about star trek.
Star Trek Facts
1. Spacie
The Royal Canadian Mint has released several coins inspired by Star Trek characters from the original series.
2. Good References
Star Trek has been referenced in countless shows, most notably The Simpsons, Futurama, and The Big Bang Theory. All shows that abide by the "Live long and prosper" motto.
The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019), Chuck Lorre Productions
3. Space Wars
George Takei, who played Sulu in the original series called for a truce between Star Wars fans and Star Trek fans in the mid 2000's, to unite against Twilight fans. Werewolves, Vampires, and Aliens, oh my!
4. Unconventional
The first ever Star Trek convention was held in 1972. Countless other conventions all across the world have popped up since, and have been hugely successful.
5. London Calling
London, England holds the Guinness World Record for most Trekkies gathered in one place, with over 1,100 Trekkies in attendance.
6. Starfleet Education
Being a devoted Trekkie can earn you a $500 scholarship toward your post-secondary education from an organization called Starfleet. Who said watching TV wasn't worth while?
7. Live Long And Prosper
When Leonard Nimoy passed away, Astronaut Terry Virts tweeted the Vulcan Salute from orbit. We can't think of a better send off.
Wikimedia Commons, Terry W. Virts
8. What's In A Name?
Most female Vulcan names start with T', while most male Vulcan names start with S. Now go back and read the title of this last fact. Now look back here, you're welcome.
9. Is This Real Life?
Both Klingon and Vulcan have been developed into real languages with their own alphabets. You can learn both languages online, in case you want to learn a language that's alien to you.
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10. The Comeback
Despite many delays, Star Trek is going to be returning to TV, with CBS developing the new show. The new series will be called Star Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017– ), CBS Television Studios
11. The Next, Next Generation
The 2009 film reboot of Star Trek was the 11th movie in the franchise. Two more movies have been made since, and a fourth is in preproduction.
Star Trek (2009), Paramount Pictures
12. Vulcan't Part 2
Zachary Quinto who played Spock in the 2009 film reboot couldn't do the Vulcan salute, and his fingers had to be glued together for the iconic v-shaped hand gesture. Glued on and prosper.
13. Vulcan't Part 1
William Shatner couldn't do the Vulcan salute either, and fishing line was tied around his fingers to create the iconic v-shaped hand gesture. Fish long and prosper.
14. Shaun Of The Pen
Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg co-wrote the script for Star Trek Beyond, the latest film in the rebooted franchise.
15. The Next Generation
Star Trek returned to television in 1987 with The Next Generation, over 20 years after the original aired. History repeats itself.
Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987–1994), Paramount Television
16. Voice Of Reason
Majel Barrett, Gene Roddenberry's wife was the voice of the Starfleet computer in the 2009 film reboot. She recorded her part before her passing in 2008.
17. Star Of The Show
The Next Generation had the highest ratings of any Star Trek show. When you're literally surrounded by stars, you can't help but shine.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Paramount Pictures
18. Forged Connections
Geordi La Forge was named after George La Forge, a Star Trek fan who had muscular dystrophy. George passed on in 1975 and when The Next Generation wanted to honor his name.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Paramount Television
19. Best Guest
Stephen Hawking is the only person to have made a guest appearance as themselves. He played a game of poker with Data, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Paramount Television
20. Shakespearienced
During the first season of The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart hung a sign above his dressing room door that read "Beware of unknown Shakespearean actor." Patrick was an established Shakespearean actor prior to joining the show.
21. Trek, Not Wreck
Patrick Stewart originally signed on to do the show because he wanted a pay day, but ultimately thought the show would be a huge failure. The show would go on to do 7 seasons.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Paramount Pictures
22. WhoopInfluence
The character Guinan was specifically written for Whoopi Goldberg to play. Goldberg was a big fan of The Next Generation and the writers knew this.
Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount Television
23. Hive Mind
The Borg were originally imagined to be insect like creatures, but budget limitations forced them to look as they do now. Though they physically did not look like insects, they kept many insect like traits, including a hive mind.
Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount Television
24. Death Of An Era
Captain Kirk officially died in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations, the first film featuring The Next Generation cast. Captain Kirk finally got beamed up.
Star Trek: Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures
25. Star Wrecked
Star Trek: The Motion Picture was a box office let-down, and was criticized for its lack of action. It wasn't until three years later when the show had a chance to redeem itself in movie form.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Paramount Pictures
26. Star Story
The first fully computer generated sequence in a Star Trek film was the Genesis Device scene in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The company who created the sequence went on to be Pixar.
27. Wrath Of Kha-ching
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan was critically and commercially acclaimed, and revitalized the possibility of a movie franchise. You only lose if you don't learn from your failures.
Star Trek II Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures
28. Magic Mi-Khan!
All of Khan's men in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan were Chippendale dancers. Who knew space was so sexy?
Star Trek II Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures
29. On The Flip Side
The original flip phone design was inspired by the communicator in the original series. Life imitates art.
30. Teleport As A Last Resort
Teleportation was used in the original series because the shows budget didn't allow for expensive scenes involving the ship landing on alien planets.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Paramount Pictures
31. I have A Dream
Martin Luther King Jr. talked Nichelle Nichols, the actor who portrayed Lt. Uhura to not quit the show. Just one of the many great things MLK did.
32. Shoot For The Stars
The creator of the original Star Trek series Gene Roddenberry was a WWII pilot and plane crash inspector. He survived several plane crashes, the final one happening while he was the pilot. He stopped flying shortly after that and began developing the original Star Trek.
33. Uhuright On!
Lt. Uhura's name means freedom in Swahili. Not only does it have a positive message, the name itself is Swahi-lit!
34. Red(rum) Shirt
Crew members wearing red shirts were the lowest ranking of the original series, and were often expendable props killed off to convey imminent danger to the blue and gold shirts who were more integral to the story. The Next Generation made red shirts the highest ranks, while blue and gold remained prominent colours as a send-off to all the fallen red shirts.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Paramount Television
35. Lady Parts
Spock was originally supposed to be a female. The executives thought it was risky having the second main character be a woman, so they switched her sex and species. The 1960's were a strange time.
36. Beam Me Up Scotty!
The famous line "beam me up, Scotty!" was never quite said like that on the show. It's unclear how this version became so popular, but it has stood the test of time.
37. Brain Drain
The "Spock's Brain" episode was one of the worst rated episodes of the original series. The episode was so unintentionally funny that "Spock's Brain" became a term to describe so-bad-its-funny television.
38. Goodbye Gene
Due to slumping ratings after being moved to a graveyard time-slot, creator Gene Roddenberry quit working on the show by the third season. The third season was the last.
39. Failure To Launch
The original pilot starring Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike was rejected by the studio. When the show was given a second chance, Jeffrey Hunter had moved on to other movies and a young William Shatner was cast as Captain Kirk.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Paramount Pictures
40. Baller Status
After the studio rejected the pilot, Lucille Ball stepped in and told the studio to reshoot the pilot. The second time was the charm and the rest is history.
41. Race Against Time
The original series is credited with television's first interracial kiss, between Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura. Many were upset, while fans and critics praised the show for its bravery.
