Star Trek is turning 60 – and the vision it promised feels more distant than ever
The US’s deployment of weaponry in space marks the latest backward step from the show’s optimistic conception of the future
TL;DR
- Star Trek, turning 60, offered a utopian vision of the future where humanity overcame greed and conflict.
- The Alien franchise presented a dystopian vision controlled by a profit-driven corporation.
- The US Air Force announced the deployment of weapons into space, countering the idea of space being for peace.
- This action is framed by officials as a response to the militarization of space by other nations.
- The author contrasts the non-lethal stun settings on Star Trek's weapons with the current focus on weapon deployment.
- The optimistic vision of Star Trek, which inspired scientific advancements, feels increasingly distant due to modern global issues and the militarization of space.