114 Fun Facts About Star Trek

After his death, Star Trek's creator was among the first people to have what carried into orbit?

The capsule burned up on re-entry and its contents were lost over the Pacific.

Who was Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series?

Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, played by DeForest Kelley, was known for his compassionate, often sardonic, approach to medicine and his frequent disagreements with Spock.

In which Hugo-winning episode does an alien probe make Picard live out a whole life on a dying world?

'The Inner Light' (1992) won the 1993 Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation; the Kataan probe makes Picard live a lifetime as Kamin and leaves him a Ressikan flute.

Nimoy invented the nerve pinch to replace a scripted punch in which first-season episode?

In 'The Enemy Within' (1966) Spock subdues the evil Kirk with the pinch; Nimoy devised it in place of a scripted blow, and later scripts abbreviated it FSNP, 'Famous Spock Nerve Pinch'.

What was Captain Picard's first command, a Constellation-class starship, before the Enterprise-D?

The USS Stargazer was Captain Picard's first command and the site of the 'Picard Maneuver,' a tactical starship maneuver he developed.

Which original-series Starfleet chief engineer was known for complaining about the ship's engines?

Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott, played by James Doohan, was the Enterprise's chief engineer and its second officer, taking command whenever Kirk and Spock were both off the ship.

Star Trek: TNG's Counselor Deanna Troi is half-human and half of which telepathic alien species?

Deanna Troi's Betazoid heritage grants her empathetic and telepathic abilities, allowing her to sense the emotions of others.

Nimoy's split-fingered salute copies a priestly blessing that forms which Hebrew letter?

The Vulcan salute copies the Priestly Blessing hand shape that forms the letter Shin, first letter of Shaddai; Nimoy said he saw it at an Orthodox synagogue service as a boy in Boston.

Who played Captain Pike in the unaired Star Trek pilot 'The Cage'?

Jeffrey Hunter starred as Captain Christopher Pike in 'The Cage,' the initial pilot for Star Trek, though he did not continue with the series when it was picked up.

Picard's Enterprise-D was which numbered Federation ship to carry the name?

The Enterprise-D was the fifth Federation starship named Enterprise, after NCC-1701 and the A, B and C; it was commissioned in 2363 and its saucer was later restored at the Fleet Museum.

Star Trek VI revealed that the ridged-forehead warrior species has blood of what colour?

Star Trek VI (1991) showed Klingon blood as pink, a lavender shade chosen so the zero-gravity assassination scene could keep a PG rating.

The Borg are a collective of cybernetic organisms driven by the goal of achieving what?

The Borg assimilate other species and their technology into their Collective, believing that doing so moves them closer to their ultimate goal of achieving perfection.

Who was the Starfleet Commander, and later Captain, of Deep Space Nine?

Benjamin Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, was Deep Space Nine's central figure and the Emissary to the Bajoran Prophets, the first African American lead of a Star Trek series.

Which actress was originally cast as Voyager's captain but quit after two days of filming the pilot?

Geneviève Bujold, a film actress unprepared for television's pace, walked off the pilot 'Caretaker' after two days; Kate Mulgrew replaced her as Janeway and stayed seven seasons.

Which Original Series episode has small, furry, fast-breeding creatures overrunning the Enterprise?

'The Trouble with Tribbles' (1967) was written by David Gerrold; producers obtained a waiver from Robert Heinlein because the tribbles resembled the flat cats of his novel The Rolling Stones.

In Star Trek: The Original Series, which episode marked the first on-screen appearance of the Romulans?

The Romulans, a cunning and secretive species resembling Vulcans, made their debut in the critically acclaimed TOS episode 'Balance of Terror'.

Starfleet found the android Data in 2338 as the sole survivor of which colony?

Data was found on Omicron Theta by the USS Tripoli; the colony had been wiped out by the Crystalline Entity, a spaceborne creature that strips planets of life.

What is the famous mission statement of Starfleet, often recited at the beginning of Star Trek series?

'To boldly go where no one has gone before' is the iconic opening line of Star Trek, encapsulating Starfleet's primary mission of exploration.

Which Starfleet class is Captain Jean-Luc Picard's USS Enterprise-D?

The Enterprise-D was a Galaxy-class starship commissioned in 2363; the class could separate its saucer section from the stardrive section.

Which Star Trek: TNG two-parter features Captain Picard being assimilated by the Borg?

'The Best of Both Worlds' closed TNG's third season in 1990 on a cliffhanger: Picard assimilated by the Borg and Riker ordering the Enterprise to fire.

What is the name of the starship commanded by Captain James T. Kirk?

Kirk commanded the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701; its 11-foot filming model was donated to the Smithsonian in 1974 and restored for display in 2016.

What drink does Picard habitually order from the replicator, always 'hot'?

Picard's order is 'Tea, Earl Grey, hot'; his other English habits include riding with an English saddle and staging Shakespeare on the holodeck with Data.

Spock's people bleed green because their blood is based on which metal?

Vulcan blood is copper-based, like real hemocyanin, which carries oxygen in octopuses and horseshoe crabs and turns their blood blue-green.

What device lets Starfleet personnel instantly move from one location to another?

Transporters allow for the near-instantaneous dematerialization and rematerialization of objects and beings across short to medium distances. The technology has been a staple of Star Trek since its inception.

Which sci-fi author wrote 'Amok Time' and with it the Vulcans' famous four-word blessing?

Theodore Sturgeon wrote 'Amok Time' (1967), which introduced the Vulcan salute, the hand gesture Leonard Nimoy devised on set, and the four-word blessing that goes with it.

What was the Cardassian name of the station later called Deep Space Nine?

The space station Deep Space Nine was originally a Cardassian mining station named Terok Nor, which was later turned over to the Federation and Bajorans. It was renamed Deep Space Nine upon Federation command.

Voyager's premiere in January 1995 was the very first programme broadcast on which new US network?

Voyager's pilot 'Caretaker' was the first programme aired on UPN, the United Paramount Network, at its launch on 16 January 1995; Paramount built the network partly around the show.

After being assimilated by the Borg, Picard is given what name?

He appears again in the 2023 season of Star Trek: Picard, when the Borg use his old assimilated form as a template.

What is the name of the shapeshifting species to which Odo belongs in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?

Odo is a Changeling, one of the shapeshifting Founders; a hundred infant Changelings were sent across the galaxy in containers to learn about other races, and Odo was one.

What is the class of the USS Voyager starship?

The USS Voyager is an Intrepid-class starship, known for its advanced technology, including variable geometry warp nacelles and the ability to land on planets.

What experimental propulsion system lets the USS Discovery jump instantly across the galaxy?

Discovery's Spore Drive, formally the displacement-activated spore hub drive, was developed by astromycologist Paul Stamets, a character named after the real-life mycologist Paul Stamets.

Which clone of Captain Picard is the villain of Star Trek: Nemesis?

Shinzon, played by Tom Hardy, is a Romulan-made clone of Picard raised in the Reman mines; Data dies destroying his warship, the Scimitar.

In Star Trek: Voyager, which former Borg drone, liberated by Captain Janeway, joins the crew and struggles to regain her humanity?

Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan, was a human assimilated by the Borg who was liberated by Captain Janeway and helped to reclaim her individuality and humanity on Voyager.

Which Deep Space Nine Cardassian is a 'plain, simple tailor' but secretly ex-Obsidian Order?

Elim Garak, played by Andrew Robinson, ran a tailor's shop on the Promenade while hiding his past as an agent of Cardassia's Obsidian Order; he appeared in all seven seasons.

Which Vulcan, played by Tim Russ for the whole 1995 to 2001 run, serves as security chief aboard the USS Voyager?

Tuvok is Voyager's Vulcan second officer, chief of security and chief tactical officer, played by Tim Russ for the show's entire 1995 to 2001 run.

What color is the uniform worn by Security and Engineering personnel in Star Trek: The Original Series?

In Star Trek: The Original Series, red uniforms were typically worn by personnel in Security, Engineering, and Operations divisions, often leading to a running gag about "redshirts" having a higher mortality rate.

Which Starfleet device instantly renders alien speech into the listener's own language?

The Universal Translator converts alien languages in real time; in 'Metamorphosis' (1967) Spock carried a handheld one from the shuttlecraft to speak with the Companion.

What is the name of the powerful, god-like entity who frequently tests humanity, particularly Captain Picard?

Q is an omnipotent, mischievous entity from the Q Continuum who often challenges and observes humanity, with Captain Picard becoming his favorite subject.

On Star Trek, Captain Kirk's nickname for ship's doctor Leonard McCoy plays on which 19th-century slang word for a surgeon?

Sawbones, 19th-century slang for a surgeon, gave McCoy his nickname 'Bones'; the 2009 film jokes that his ex-wife's divorce settlement left him nothing but his bones.

What registry did the warp-5 starship of the 2001 prequel series carry?

It first appeared in the pilot 'Broken Bow' and was still around for the signing of the Federation charter in the finale.

The Maquis, colonists resisting the Cardassians, are named for guerrillas of which conflict?

The Maquis take their name from the French Resistance fighters of the Second World War; DS9 introduced them in a 1994 two-parter so that Voyager's crew could include them.

What is the primary function of a Starfleet replicator?

A replicator's job is synthesising food and objects from stored matter; in the original series food came from a 'food synthesizer' as coloured cubes, and the 24th-century version can recycle what it makes.

Star Trek's Klingons were named after Wilbur Clingan, a former colleague of Roddenberry's from what walk of life?

Wilbur Clingan served with Roddenberry in police work at the Los Angeles Police Department, where Roddenberry was an officer in the 1950s before turning to television scripts.

Data's 'positronic brain' borrows a term coined by which science-fiction author?

When the term was coined in 1939 and 1940 the positron was a newly discovered particle, which lent the word a scientific ring.

What is the name of the sentient holographic doctor on the USS Voyager?

The Doctor is the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) on the USS Voyager. Initially a temporary program, he evolved into a fully sentient being with a strong personality.

Which individual gives the Borg Collective a single guiding consciousness?

The Borg Queen, introduced in Star Trek: First Contact (1996) and played by Alice Krige, is the Collective's central consciousness, calling herself both 'I' and 'we'.

Who became the Enterprise-D's chief of security after Tasha Yar's death?

Worf, played by Michael Dorn, took over as security chief after Tasha Yar died in 'Skin of Evil' (1988) and later served aboard Deep Space Nine.

What is Starfleet's directive prohibiting interference with the natural development of less advanced civilisations?

The Prime Directive is Starfleet's most important ethical guideline, forbidding interference with pre-warp civilizations to allow them to develop naturally without external influence.

Which Star Trek actor lost his right middle finger on D-Day and hid it on screen for most of his career?

James Doohan, a Royal Canadian Artillery officer, was hit by six rounds from a nervous Canadian sentry on the night of the Juno Beach landing; one took his right middle finger.

On which resort planet does Picard reluctantly take shore leave in 'Captain's Holiday'?

On Risa, Picard is kissed by a stranger dodging a pursuer moments after arriving, and ends up hunting the Tox Uthat, a 27th-century weapon, alongside Vash.

Which Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character runs a popular bar on the station?

Quark, a Ferengi, operates a popular bar on Deep Space Nine, which serves as a central social hub and often a backdrop for various schemes and ethical dilemmas.

Which linguist did Paramount hire to build the warrior species' language for Star Trek III?

Marc Okrand, a linguist who had studied Native American languages, created Klingon for Star Trek III (1984); the language has no verb 'to be', which complicated quoting Hamlet in Star Trek VI.

Which Star Trek series features a human captain with a Vulcan first officer, set prior to Kirk's era?

Star Trek: Enterprise, set in the mid-22nd century, chronicles the early days of deep space exploration, with Captain Jonathan Archer leading the NX-01 Enterprise alongside his Vulcan first officer, T'Pol.

What did the Borg call the tripedal, telepathic beings from fluidic space?

The Borg designated them Species 8472; Voyager's Doctor helped build warheads armed with modified nanoprobes, the only weapon that forced the tripedal telepaths back into fluidic space.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, what is the name of Lieutenant Commander Data's cat?

Spot started out as a male Somali cat before turning into a female orange tabby who eventually has kittens.

Which series takes place primarily in the Delta Quadrant?

Voyager is flung 70,000 light-years into the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker's array, a distance that would take decades to cross at maximum warp.

Which Zefram Cochrane ship, converted from a nuclear missile, made the first warp flight in 2063?

The ship was launched from an old missile silo; its warp signature draws a passing alien survey vessel and triggers first contact.

Which alien species runs its business by the Rules of Acquisition?

The Ferengi live by 285 Rules of Acquisition, proverbs such as 'Never place friendship above profit', that govern their hyper-capitalist, patriarchal society.

Who composed the iconic theme music for Star Trek: The Original Series?

Alexander Courage composed the distinctive and memorable theme music for Star Trek: The Original Series, which has become one of the most recognizable themes in television history.

Kirk's fictional birthplace, the real town of Riverside, sits in which US state?

Riverside, Iowa, declared itself Kirk's future birthplace in 1985 and began an annual Trek Fest that year; the 2009 film shows Kirk growing up in Iowa.

On Deep Space Nine, what stable phenomenon, discovered near the station in the first episode, links the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants?

The Bajoran wormhole, discovered in the first episode, is a stable shortcut through space that links the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants directly.

In 'The Best of Both Worlds', Riker is offered command of which starship, later found destroyed at Wolf 359?

Riker was offered the USS Melbourne, his third command offer after the Drake and the Aries; the Melbourne was destroyed in the Battle of Wolf 359, as seen in DS9's 'Emissary'.

What is the name of the shuttlecraft often used by Captain Kirk and his crew for planetary excursions?

The Galileo, shuttlecraft NCC-1701/7, featured in 'The Galileo Seven' (1967), where the shuttle Columbus searched for it; the full-size prop survived and was restored in 2013.

Whose 1950 story 'The Veldt' imagined a virtual-reality 'nursery' that prefigured the holodeck?

Ray Bradbury's 'The Veldt' (1950) gave its children a nursery whose walls conjured a lion-filled African savannah that turns deadly; it appeared in his collection The Illustrated Man (1951).

Who is the Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise-D, known for his VISOR?

Geordi La Forge, played by LeVar Burton, was named by Roddenberry after George La Forge, a fan with muscular dystrophy who died in 1975; Burton found the VISOR miserable to wear.

Which Star Trek: Discovery character, raised on Vulcan, is the first human at the Vulcan Science Academy?

Michael Burnham was raised on Vulcan after her parents were killed and became the first human to attend the Vulcan Learning Center and later the Vulcan Science Academy.

Bajoran religious life centres on what objects, believed to have been sent by the Prophets?

The Orbs, or Tears of the Prophets, are Bajor's holiest objects; nine were discovered over the centuries and the Cardassians seized eight during the Occupation.

Which teenage prodigy did Picard appoint acting ensign aboard the Enterprise-D?

Wesley Crusher, played by Wil Wheaton, was made acting ensign in 'Where No One Has Gone Before'; he later left Starfleet Academy to travel with the Traveler, who had likened him to Mozart.

On which colony did the young Kirk witness Kodos the Executioner's massacre of 4,000 colonists?

Tarsus IV is where Kodos ordered 4,000 colonists killed; the backstory surfaces in the first-season episode 'The Conscience of the King', when Kirk suspects a touring actor is Kodos in hiding.

Picard has an artificial heart after being stabbed as a young officer by a member of which species?

A Nausicaan ran Ensign Picard through the heart in a bar fight at Starbase Earhart; 'Tapestry' shows Q offering him the chance to undo it.

Star Trek's first regular episode, 'The Man Trap', aired on NBC on September 8 of which year?

1966 was the year: 'The Man Trap' aired on NBC on Thursday, September 8, 1966, as part of a 'sneak preview' block.

What is the customary Vulcan reply to the salute's famous four-word blessing?

'Peace and long life' is the customary Vulcan reply, given with the same split-fingered salute; the two phrases are sometimes exchanged in the reverse order.

In Star Trek, Starfleet Headquarters and its Academy stand on Earth in the Fort Baker area beside which San Francisco landmark?

The Golden Gate Bridge is the backdrop to Starfleet Headquarters and Starfleet Academy on screen, from Star Trek IV (1986) through the 2009 film; the campus sits at Fort Baker on the Marin side.

Who designed and built the android Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Soong built him in his own likeness, so the same actor plays the creator as well as the android and his malevolent brother Lore.

What is the homeworld of the Klingon Empire?

Qo'noS, rendered in English as Kronos, is the Klingon homeworld and seat of the High Council; the Khitomer peace talks of Star Trek VI (1991) follow the explosion of its moon.

In Star Trek Generations, the Enterprise-D's saucer section crash-lands on which planet?

The saucer crash-lands on Veridian III after the Duras sisters' Bird-of-Prey breaches the ship's shields; ILM filmed the crash with a 12-foot saucer model.

Which alien species made official first contact with humanity in the film Star Trek: First Contact?

In the film Star Trek: First Contact, the Vulcans made official first contact with humanity on April 5, 2063, after detecting Zefram Cochrane's first warp flight.

What is the name of the Enterprise-D lounge where Guinan serves drinks?

Ten Forward, the lounge at the front of deck 10, was added in TNG's second season together with its bartender Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg.

Who was Captain Picard's first officer for most of Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Commander William T. Riker, known informally as 'Number One' by Captain Picard, was the first officer of the USS Enterprise-D for the entirety of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Which airline employed Gene Roddenberry as a pilot after the Second World War?

Gene Roddenberry flew for Pan American World Airways from 1945 to 1948, surviving the crash of a Pan Am Constellation in the Syrian desert in 1947.

Before Kate Mulgrew took the role, Voyager's captain was scripted with which first name?

The name honoured the writer Elizabeth Janeway; the first actress cast asked for 'Nicole', and Mulgrew later suggested Kathryn.

Zefram Cochrane built humanity's first warp ship in Bozeman, in which US state?

His flight on April 5, 2063 was picked up by a passing alien survey ship, which landed at the launch site for first contact.

The ridged-forehead warrior species first appeared in which 1967 Original Series episode?

'Errand of Mercy' (1967), written by Gene L. Coon, introduced the Klingons as Kor's occupying force on Organia; Coon's script described them only as 'hard-faced'.

Which Denobulan serves as chief medical officer aboard Enterprise NX-01?

Phlox, played by John Billingsley, is the Denobulan doctor of Enterprise NX-01, fond of live animal remedies such as the osmotic eel he keeps in sickbay.

Which navigator, added to the Enterprise bridge in the second season, was played by Walter Koenig?

Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, joined the Enterprise bridge as navigator in the second season, a casting aimed partly at younger viewers.

Which Talaxian joins Voyager's crew as its cook and guide?

Neelix, played by Ethan Phillips, joined Voyager in the pilot 'Caretaker' as guide and cook, and later became the ship's morale officer.

Who famously portrayed Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series?

Canadian actor William Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk, leading the USS Enterprise on its five-year mission in the original Star Trek series and subsequent films.

Which designer chose the Enterprise's registry number as first ship of Starfleet's 17th design?

Matt Jefferies picked NCC-1701 as the first ship of Starfleet's 17th cruiser design, rejecting the digits 3, 6, 8 and 9 as too easily confused on screen; the ship's crawlways were named Jefferies tubes after him.

What species is Lieutenant Worf of Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Worf is a Klingon, adopted and raised by human parents, who served as a Starfleet officer and became a crucial link between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

Picard was born in the fictional village of La Barre, home of the family vineyard, in which country?

Château Picard lies in La Barre, France; brother Robert ran the vineyard after Jean-Luc left for Starfleet, and Star Trek: Picard filmed its estate scenes at a California winery.

How many episodes of Star Trek: Voyager aired across its seven seasons?

Voyager ran 172 episodes from 1995 to 2001: a 16-episode first season followed by six seasons of 26, with feature-length episodes counted as two.

Which handheld device do Starfleet officers use to scan and analyse their surroundings?

The tricorder is a handheld sensor, recorder and computer; its medical variant lets McCoy and later ship's doctors diagnose patients without touching them.

Which Ferengi, Quark's nephew, becomes the first of his species to join Starfleet?

Nog, played by Aron Eisenberg, is Rom's son and Quark's nephew; he became the first Ferengi in Starfleet after asking Sisko for a recommendation in 'Heart of Stone'.

Who played James T. Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek reboot?

Chris Pine played Kirk in J.J. Abrams's 2009 Star Trek, a reboot set in an alternate timeline created when the Romulan Nero travels into the past.

Which doctor is the Enterprise-D's chief medical officer for six of TNG's seven seasons?

Beverly Crusher, played by Gates McFadden, was the Enterprise-D's chief medical officer in every season except the second, when Katherine Pulaski took over.

Which former Maquis commander becomes Voyager's first officer?

Chakotay, played by Robert Beltran, commanded the Maquis raider Voyager was chasing when both ships were flung across the galaxy in 'Caretaker', and became Voyager's first officer.

What line do the Borg deliver before assimilating a target?

The Borg announce that resistance is futile, then absorb their victims' biological and technological distinctiveness.

Which 1986 film sends Kirk's crew back to 1980s San Francisco to collect humpback whales?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), directed by Leonard Nimoy, has the crew fetch two humpback whales, George and Gracie, from 1986 San Francisco to answer an alien probe.

How many episodes did the original Star Trek series produce?

Three seasons yielded 79 episodes — a short run that grew enormous in syndication.

Which actor played Data?

Brent Spiner played the role through the series and the follow-up films, later adding several related characters.

On Deep Space Nine, which sport, largely vanished by the 24th century, is Benjamin Sisko's passion, its ball kept on his desk?

Baseball has largely disappeared by the 24th century, kept alive by a few aficionados like Sisko; the ball left on his desk in the finale signals he intends to return.

Which invading power does the Federation fight in Deep Space Nine's final seasons?

The Dominion War dominates the last two seasons, pitting the Federation against an aggressive power from far beyond Federation space.

Which half-Klingon former Maquis does Janeway make Voyager's chief engineer?

B'Elanna Torres, played by Roxann Dawson, is the half-Klingon, half-human former Maquis whom Janeway makes chief engineer over Lieutenant Carey in 'Parallax'.

What is James T. Kirk's middle name?

Tiberius: James Tiberius Kirk's full name was first spoken in the 1974 animated episode 'Bem', and the 2009 film has his parents debate the name aboard the USS Kelvin.

What was Uhura's role aboard the Enterprise?

Nichelle Nichols played Uhura as chief communications officer, a specialist in linguistics and cryptography.

What registry number does the USS Voyager carry?

Voyager's registry is NCC-74656; the ship left Deep Space 9 in 2371 to hunt a Maquis raider in the Badlands and vanished into the Delta Quadrant.

NASA built the shuttle Enterprise for what purpose?

Enterprise was built for the 1977 approach and landing tests, released from a Boeing 747 to glide to Edwards Air Force Base; it had no engines or working heat shield and never reached orbit.

How long was Voyager's trip home originally projected to take?

With the Caretaker's array destroyed, the crew faced an estimated 75-year voyage at maximum warp.

What is the name of Spock's father?

Sarek is a career diplomat, and his marriage to a human produced a son caught between two cultures.

Which actor played Khan in the 1982 film?

Ricardo Montalban returned as Khan Noonien Singh, reprising a role he first played in the original series.

Before Star Trek fans mounted a letter campaign, NASA planned to name its first shuttle what?

The orbiter was to be called Constitution until fan letters persuaded President Ford to rename it Enterprise.

The Prime Directive is formally recorded as which Starfleet order?

Starfleet General Order 1 forbids interfering with the natural development of other civilisations.

In The Wrath of Khan, what terraforming technology turns dead matter into a living world?

The Genesis Device, developed by Carol and David Marcus on Regula I, reorganises dead matter into living matter; Khan detonates it, creating the short-lived Genesis Planet.

Which composer's score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture became The Next Generation's title theme?

Jerry Goldsmith scored Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), earning an Oscar nomination; its main theme became the title music of The Next Generation in 1987.