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Planetary Radio • Sep 09, 2026
Star Trek at 60: What do we value the most? (Part 1)
On This Episode
Robert Picardo
Board of Directors of The Planetary Society; Actor, Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Bruce Betts
Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society
Sarah Al-Ahmed
Planetary Radio Host and Producer for The Planetary Society
Star Trek turned 60 on Sept. 8, 2026, and to celebrate, we're kicking off a special two-part series exploring the franchise's deep and lasting connection to real-world space exploration. In Part 1, Robert Picardo, the Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek: Voyager, now starring in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and a member of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors, joins Sarah Al-Ahmed to trace the relationship between Star Trek and The Planetary Society all the way back to a 1980 letter from Gene Roddenberry himself. Bob talks about how playing a holographic doctor for 30 years led him to become a real-world space advocate, and what Star Trek's non-human characters can teach us about what it means to be human. Then, Bruce Betts, Planetary Society Chief Scientist, joins for What's Up and a discussion of solar sails in the franchise.
A rare letter from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry In 1980, the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, wrote a letter and sent it out to a Star Trek fans mailing list. In the letter, Gene invited his fans to join us on our mission to explore the cosmos.
Star Trek actors endorse The Planetary Society over the years Star Trek has always looked to the future with optimism. It represents a future when we've worked past our differences on Earth and look to the stars. The Planetary Society understands that vision for a better future, believing that space exploration brings out the best in us. If you believe in that future, you should join today as a member. The actors behind the iconic characters of Captain Kirk, Sulu, Uhura, Riker, Q, Data, Janeway, Tuvok, and Voyager's holographic Doctor believe in our mission as did the founder of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry.
A Conversation: Star Trek's Robert Picardo and Kate Mulgrew Two science fiction television icons, Robert Picardo and Kate Mulgrew share their personal stories of becoming inspired by space in their roles as The Doctor and Captain Janeway on the set of Star Trek: Voyager.
Related Links
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