Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary

The entire year of 2016 has been a celebration of one of the most iconic franchises in television and film history, leading up to this special day, the 50th anniversary of the debut of Star Trek on US television.

On September 8, 1966, Star Trek debuted on NBC with the episode “The Man Trap”, thus launching the franchise that would inspire millions with an optimistic vision of the future where all people, in spite of and because of differences, could work together in harmony toward a better future.

Star Trek fans around the world continue to express and share their fandom on all social media platforms with photos and testimonials, resulting in the hashtag #StarTrek50 trending on Twitter and “Star Trek” topic trending on Facebook. In addition to fans, the Twitterverse also saw numerous celebrities and organizations tweet celebratory messages and images. Facebook updated their suite of Like buttons to Star Trek themed emoji, and users can update their profile avatar image with a special Star Trek frame.

The love and support being shared worldwide is testament to the impact Star Trek had in the 1960s and still has today 50 years later. Not only has Star Trek been a pioneer in sci-fi storytelling but has also inspired millions to explore the sciences, to organize in local and national campaigns, and work together to make a difference in society in order to bring us closer to the future we see in Star Trek.

In addition to the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, this date also marks the 43rd anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series which debuted on September 8, 1973.

We would like to thank Gene Roddenberry and the Roddenberry family, Lucille Ball and Desilu, NBC, CBS and Paramount, J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot, every member of the casts and crews involved in writing and production, as well as all of the fans for creating, maintaining and supporting Star Trek in all its many incarnations. This world, this slice of the multiverse, is definitely enriched and made better because of Star Trek.

Live Long and Prosper

by Deyvid