Star Trek: 50 years of positive futurism and bold social commentary

September 8, 1966 was the day Science Fiction on television changed forever. It was the day Star Trek entered our public consciousness. In many ways, Star Trek was the right show, at the right time, this despite the fact that only after its initial run of 79 episodes, and a legendary letter writing campaign by its fans to try to save it, it was canceled by NBC for poor ratings. It came at a moment in our country's history when we were enjoying unprecedented technological advances and yet were experiencing social and political turmoil that threatened to rip apart the fabric of our nation and also potentially destroy our way of life as we knew it. This disparity between technology and humanity were themes that would define Star Trek in its various incarnations for the next fifty years -- and perhaps, if its fans see to make it so, for decades more.