FEBRUARY 2026

Celebrating 60 Years of "Star Trek"

By Rev Protodeacon George A. Haloulakos

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry's landmark TV science fiction series "Star Trek," which is set in the 23rd century.  With so many variants of this historic franchise released in the decades since its 1966 debut on the NBC network -- multiple television series, motion pictures, animated programs as well as books in both print and audio -- there are lots of opportunities to enjoy celebrating the staying power of this truly transformative franchise and its optimistic view of the future.  One such opportunity is to watch the 1986 motion picture titled "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."  It features the cast from the original series that aired from 1966-69 and uses a storyline that not only appeals to a general audience but it actually stands on its own, so anyone, including a first time viewer, can enjoy this film without being a Star Trek fan.

Even if you never watched "Star Trek" there are lots of reasons to celebrate this historic franchise, and this particular film makes it more accessible if not enjoyable for a general audience.

> "Star Trek" inspired generations to support manned space exploration.  This led NASA to naming its first Space Shuttle "Enterprise" after the series most famous flagship with its original cast in attendance at the ceremony.  Appropriately, "The Voyage Home" begins with a poignant dedication to the Space Shuttle "Challenger" which was tragically destroyed with all its crew in 1986 - the same year the film was released! 

> The core of the film is built around the deep friendship and camaraderie of the "Enterprise" bridge crew over their many decades of serving together.  The storyline is replete with lots of humor and each cast member is a significant contributor with ample screen time.  One such example is actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Uhura, the communications officer throughout the original series during its airing in the late 1960s.  Her role in the original series inspired the Rev Dr Martin Luther King to personally reach out to Ms Nichols and affirm the importance of her portrayal of Uhura in helping transform the social and cultural landscape of the day, and thereby help engender change that would advance the future.  By the mid-to-late 1980s, twenty years after its debut, "Star Trek" was more than just a science fiction series, it was a cultural touchstone.  Uhura plays a critical role in the storyline as she is assigned the task of secretly gathering nuclear materials to help regenerate the fuel supply for their spaceship so they can return to the 23rd century.  Her interaction with fellow bridge officer Chekov (played by Walter Koenig) is superb as they locate an unlikely source to acquire nuclear fuel -- the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise!  In sum, the contributions of Ms Nichols and her fellow "Star Trek" castmates both on and off screen have been more appreciated with the passage of time.  

> The use of time travel is central to the plot as our heroes journey back to late 20th century Earth (specifically to San Francisco) to find humpback whales and return to the 23rd century (where these creatures are extinct) as the song of humpback whales are the only means by which to respond to an alien probe, whose contact signals are creating havoc with Earth's atmosphere.  The fusion of time travel and the importance of conservation of nature (especially noteworthy animals such as whales) makes for a compelling social message.  Longtime fans will observe that some of the very best "Star Trek" episodes and films involve time travel, and "The Voyage Home" fits this niche very nicely.

> The "fish out of water" comedy arising from 23rd century time travelers attempting to blend in with late 20th century pop culture keeps the film from being pretentious while still adhering to the importance of repopulating future Earth with humpback whales to preserve the planet.  It is truly a fine line, but the likeability, warmth and caring shown by the characters enable them to connect with the audience while delivering a powerful, and ultimately transformative message.

There is much more, but hopefully this summary of highlights will engender interest in seeing this film again, or perhaps viewing it for the first time.  "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" has an enduring legacy 40 years after its release as it not only helped raise worldwide awareness on the importance of preserving the species of humpback whales -- thereby leading to a resurgence in its population -- but also helped to inspire later generations to make manned space travel an important driver for human development.  Worldwide whale watching expeditions for the general public have become commonplace, a reflection of heightened awareness about ecological stewardship and a deeper appreciation of the animal kingdom.  Manned space travel, with the creation of SpaceX and Blue Origin space exploration companies, have helped bring "Star Trek" to life!  Watching this fun film is a great way to celebrate the enduring legacy of this franchise regardless of whether or not you are a fan of "Star Trek."  To close this month's Blog in celebration of the 60th anniversary of "Star Trek," here is the text of the aforementioned opening dedication of the film.

" The cast and crew of Star Trek wish to dedicate this film to the men and women of the spaceship Challenger whose courageous spirit shall live to the 23rd century and beyond..."

May all of you, our wonderful GNN audience, have that same spirit in going for your dreams!  And may your journey be blessed with the friendship and camaraderie shown by our fictional "Star Trek" heroes.

NOTE: All photos are from the public domain.