SCIENCE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
ISS Astronaut Wears Star Trek Badge in Tribute to 60‑Year Legacy
WHY IT MATTERS
The gesture underscores the enduring influence of science fiction on real scientific endeavors, inspiring collaboration and curiosity among astronauts and the broader scientific community.
What happened
During Expedition 75, European Space Agency flight engineer Sophie Adenot donned the Delta badge that actor Anson Mount wore as Christopher Pike in Paramount+’s "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." The astronaut recorded a video from the International Space Station, which ESA and Paramount released on Instagram.
Adenot said the gesture celebrates Star Trek’s 60‑year history of friendship and exploration, and it honors the real‑world work of science and exploration.
She added that exploration and science are driven by curiosity and cooperation, daring to go a little farther together, learning from discoveries, building on them, and turning knowledge into a better future for everyone.
PRIMARY SOURCES
The universal language of space is... Star Trek? Mais oui.
Ars Technica · Robert Pearlman · Discovery only; Condé Nast copyright terms apply