Shawn Case and Larry Nemecek on Enterprise In Space.

There is perhaps no ship name in history better known than Enterprise. From the HMS Enterprise of 1705 to the 26th-century USS Enterprise-J seen in the episode "Azati Prime," it's a name that captures the spirit of exploration—always. The next ship to bear the name may just come from the project known as Enterprise In Space, an educational and scientific endeavor connected with the non-profit National Space Society.

In this episode of Matter Stream we're joined by Enterprise In Space founder Shawn Case and Star Trek historian Larry Nemecek, who serves as Promotions Manager for EIS, to learn more about the project that will design and launch an eight-foot orbiter named NSS Enterprise, which will carry more than 100 student-designed science experiments into space, and return the craft to Earth.

Host

Christopher Jones

Guests

Shawn Case and Larry Nemecek

Editor and Producer

Christopher Jones

Associate Producer

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Chapters

The EIS Mission (2:20)

Shawn's Background (5:15)

Larry Joins the Team (7:08)

Meet the EIS Team (9:47)

The NSS Enterprise Orbiter (20:03)

The Orbiter Design Contest (26:19)

Testing Space Technologies (31:25)

Support the Grassroots Effort (38:38)

Find Out More About Enterprise In Space (44:32)

Closing (47:59)

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Media and Fandom in the 1970s.

For a global cultural phenomenon, Star Trek got off to a rocky start. The Original Series survived cancellation after just two seasons thanks in part to the efforts of fans, but the reprise brought only one more year of exploration for Kirk and his crew. The real story of Star Trek's success can be found in what happened next—reruns, The Animated Series, NASA's first Space Shuttle, and a theatrical reunion of the original cast—all in the 1970s. In this episode of Matter Stream we're joined by John Tenuto to talk his research into media coverage of Star Trek during the 1970s and the role both media and fans played in Star Trek's resurrection.

Alec Peters and Richard Hatch talk Star Trek: Axanar.

Star Trek has inspired fans in many ways, and for creatives one of the most tantalizing paths to exploring Gene Roddenberry’s universe is through the DIY method—Do It Yourself. Without new episodes on television, fans with a background in film production, writing, and acting have developed a number of series that extend the missions of our favorite crews—and introduce us to new ones. The quality of these films has been astounding, giving us content that rivals that of television in years past.

In this episode of Matter Stream we’re joined by Propworx founder Alec Peters and Battlestar Galactica’s Richard Hatch to discuss their new film project, Star Trek: Axanar, a war story set in the Star Trek universe that brings back some familiar characters, familiar actors, and delivers many new faces as well.

Dylan Nord, We-Care.com and AIDS Research Alliance.

In Star Trek, even the deadliest disease normally requires little more than a visit to Doctor Crusher or perhaps a night in sickbay. In the real world, we’re not so lucky. At least not yet. But organizations like the AIDS Research Alliance are working hard to make such treatment a reality. And with the help of those like LeVar Burton and We-Care.com, the future looks bright. In this episode of Matter Stream we’re joined by Dylan Nord of We-Care.com to talk about the current state of AIDS—both the disease and the search for a cure—as well as the efforts of Star Trek’s own LeVar Burton to raise awareness of and funds for research. Plus, you’ll find out how you can win lunch with LeVar and help the cause at the same time.

Armin Shimerman.

For more than 30 years Armin Shimerman has delighted television audiences with appearances on everything from Hill Street Blues to Who’s the Boss? to ER. And with the premiere of Deep Space Nine he became a household name thanks to his his portrayal of Quark. Since then Armin has made numerous other appearances on television, lent his voice talents to animation and video games, and now he has a new project in the works that promises to bring together his knack for comedy with a subject we all like to explore—the end of the world. In this episode of Matter Stream we’re joined by Armin to learn about this new project—Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse—how he came to be involved, what we can expect from the film, and how you can support the project. 

Athena Andreadis: Women in SF.

Science fiction wishes to be the genre of imaginative extrapolation, yet the portrayal of female characters remains largely traditional. Even in today’s SF, the role of protagonist remains mostly a male occupation requiring by-the-numbers quests that fall short of a story’s scientific and technology ingenuity. But the sixteen writers collected in The Other Half of the Sky aim to change that by telling engaging stories in which women have strong roles. In this episode of Matter Stream host Christopher Jones is joined by Dr. Athena Andreadis, scientist and writer who conceived of and edited this collection of original fiction, to discuss the roles of women in SF literature as well as Star Trek.

Bill Kraft.

Convincing the US Postal Service to issue a stamp honoring Star Trek seemed like an easy task. After all, few things have entrenched themselves in our culture like Star Trek. But as Bill Kraft quickly found out in 1985, getting the Postal Service to even consider the subject required a near act of divine intervention. In this episode of Matter Stream we’re joined by Bill to talk about the campaign he led, the formation of the committee and their efforts, and the 14-year journey that eventually gave us the 33-cent Star Trek stamp. 

Heather Chandler and Thomas Kastner of Elephant Mouse.

Star Trek Into Darkness may be pulling fans into theatres, but it isn’t the only thing capturing the eyes Trekkies this summer. Star Trek Rivals, a new card battle game from Elephant Mouse, has assimilated the screens of iOS devices worldwide. In this episode of Matter Stream Christopher Jones is joined by Elephant Mouse Senior Producer Heather Chandler and Lead Designer Thomas Kastner to talk about their studio and the game that has taken us all by storm. We’ll even get some tips and strategies from the creators themselves along the way. 

Anthony Montgomery.

It’s been seven years since Enterprise left the airwaves, and since that time the cast and crew have been busy charting new courses of creativity. But few have been as active in so many areas as the man who played the NX-01’s helmsman, Anthony Montgomery. Since the end of Enterprise, Anthony has had his hand in television, movies, music, and publishing. In short, he’s been a busy man. In this episode of Matter Stream Christopher Jones is joined by Anthony to talk about his latest project, Chariot, an independent film about seven people who find themselves in the middle of a circumstance they never imagined.