- Title: Star Trek fans praise William Shatner as he prepares to boldly go into space
- Date: 8th October 2021
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 4, 2009) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTOR WILLIAM SHATNER POSING WITH WAXWORK FIGURE AND SITTING IN COMMAND CHAIR
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2021 22:12
- Keywords: Skirball Cultural Center Star Trek William Shatner exhibition fans memorabilia reactions
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Science,Space Exploration,United States,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA002EYAVADJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Star Trek fans are eagerly anticipating the moment William Shatner crosses over from fictional space to the real thing.
Shatner, who played the iconic James T. Kirk in the original series, will be launched into space on Tuesday (October 12) in a rocket built by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space company.
Fans at the Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds exhibition in Los Angeles are excited by the news that Shatner will finally be going where no Star Trek actor has gone before.
Laura Wilkins, 69, from Orlando, Florida, said "I think it's just so awesome that he's getting ready at 90 years old to go into space. That is fantastic. I really love that whole thing."
Pat Dengler, 57, from Los Angeles, California, said "I would love to be a fly on that wall because I really want to know who's going to be giving the commands up in space but I think it's fantastic for all of us. It just makes space travel so much more accessible. The thought that I have some time still and there's a good chance I get to go up in space at some point."
The exhibition pulls props, costumes and sets from the various series of the show, which originated in 1966 and was the brainchild of Gene Roddenberry.
The curator of the show, Laura Mart, believes that Shatner going to space is symbolic of the long-running franchise's overall message.
She said "I think really it's bigger than Shatner, right? I mean, Captain Kirk is Star Trek but really Star Trek is the thing that has had the impact on space travel by presenting this optimistic vision of the future, especially an inclusive vision of the future. One of the things that I think made Star Trek so impactful in terms of influencing the course of technology is showing people they had a place in space. So no matter what they looked like or where they came from they too could explore. Even if you didn't necessarily look like Captain Kirk, you could be part of the crew."
Star Trek fan, Harold Crossley, 38, from Los Angeles, agrees, saying "I think it fuels everyone that wants to go out there. It's not just a big void of nothingness, it has all types of adventure waiting for you."
Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds exhibition opened Wednesday (October 7) and will be on display at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles until February 20, 2022.
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