LA TIMES: 'Star Trek' is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Why its optimistic vision of the future endures If you ask George Takei whether he ever thought he'd still be talking about "Star Trek" 60 years after its debut, he will respond with a smile and a shrug. NY TIMES: 'Star Trek' Endures for the Next Generation, and the Next, and the Next As of 2026, the 60-year-old science fiction franchise boasts a fandom of carbon units — sorry, humans — that spans at least three generations. What began, in 1966, as a five-year space mission on the U.S.S. Enterprise to "boldly go where no man has gone before" now represents an anthology of space travel across more than 25 series and films in parts of two centuries. THE CONVERSATION: 'Star Trek' and NASA have intertwined legacies – the show championed diversity and inspired generations of real space scientists "Star Trek" is also unusual for its close connections to NASA, both in its storylines and in the real world. Decades of "Star Trek" adventures have ignited a love of spaceflight across generations, inspiring many who now work as space professionals. TV LINE: 60 Best Star Trek Episodes In Franchise History, Ranked "Star Trek" debuted 60 years ago today — and that's inspired us to boldly go into the archives to rank the greatest episodes in franchise history. Since the original "Star Trek" series premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966, "Star Trek" has become not only an enduring science fiction staple, but also a shining beacon of hope. In a sea of cynical, pessimistic visions of the future, "Trek" dared to dream big and show us a brighter tomorrow we can all dream of achieving. WILLIAM SHATNER on X: It's been 60 years in the making and it's all thanks to you the fans! Happy Birthday @StarTrek! My best, Bill