Star Trek Turns 60: Astronaut Wears Captain's Badge in Space
Science fiction and real space exploration just high-fived—here's why that matters to you.
Sixty years ago, Star Trek showed a future where people explored space together. This week, a real astronaut on the International Space Station honored that dream by wearing the badge of Captain Pike, the latest captain from the show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Sophie Adenot, an ESA astronaut from France, recorded a video from orbit wearing the Delta-shaped pin, celebrating the franchise's anniversary.
"For me, exploration and science are about curiosity and cooperation—daring to go a little farther together," Adenot said. The European Space Agency posted the video with a message that connects the show's optimistic vision to real space work. "Science fiction imagines the future. We build it," ESA officials wrote. Adenot ended with the famous phrase: "Live long and prosper."
This isn't the first time Star Trek items have gone to space. In 2015, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti wore a uniform inspired by Captain Janeway while making the first espresso in space—a plot element from Star Trek: Voyager. Over the decades, real technology like tablets, handheld medical scanners, and 3D printers first appeared on Star Trek before becoming everyday tools.
The badge itself carries symbolic weight. It represents a story about diverse crews solving problems without war, which inspired generations of scientists and explorers. Adenot also made history earlier this year as the first French woman to perform a spacewalk. For busy people on Earth, this moment is a reminder: the optimism and teamwork of science fiction can become real when people dare to try.
- An astronaut on the ISS wore a Star Trek Captain Pike badge to celebrate the show's 60th anniversary.
- She's Sophie Adenot, the first French woman to walk in space, flying as part of ESA's Epsilon mission.
- ESA's message: Sci-fi imagined the future, and real space agencies turn that imagination into reality.
- Star Trek tech like tablets and 3D printers already exist — showing fiction inspires real-world inventions.
Why It Matters
It shows how dreams from fiction can spark real careers in science, inspiring the next generation of explorers.