NPR

Finding your place in the galaxy with the help of Star Trek

I don't remember a time when I didn't love Star Trek. This show, and my father who introduced me to it, built the foundation for my sense of social justice as an astrophysicist of color.

One experience that I hope never fades from my memory is the day I found myself on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

OK, it wasn't the "real" TV set — it was even better!

At the turn of the century, Las Vegas had an attraction called the Star Trek Experience that sadly didn't make enough money to survive. It had actors dressed up like Klingons and other aliens.

There were Starfleet officers doing their jobs, and you felt like you were in an actual episode of . The premise of the ride was that Klingons went back in time to abduct Captain Jean-Luc Picard's ancestor. My sister raised her hand and said loudly: "It's

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