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Inspired Enterprise: How NASA, the Smithsonian, and the Aerospace Community Helped Launch Star Trek
Star Trek is a phenomenon, spinoffs and reruns have been a near constant presence on international television for more than 50 years. More than a dozen feature films have been produced, with many more on the way.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 7, 2025
When Gene Roddenberry pitched the original TV series Star Trek to the NBC Network executives in 1964 he described it as a ‘Wagon Train To The Stars.’
That may sound strange, yet it was a smart move on his part. When Gene presented the Star Trek premise to NBC Westerns were huge money-makers on network TV.
Dozens of Westerns dominated the airways close onto 20 years. Gene himself wrote a number of scripts for Westerns like Have Gun, Will Travel.
Part of the reason he was able to pitch Star Trek was because of his track record of writing good scripts, meeting deadlines and his dependability. Science Fiction TV series were few and far between-many of them cliche filled and somewhat silly.
Gene got the go-ahead to develop a Star Trek pilot episode: The Menagerie. It was a well-written, cerebral script that put forth serious questions and concepts. NBC rejected it as being too slow and intellectual for TV audiences.
In an unprecedented move, NBC ordered a second pilot: Where No Man Has Gone Before. It too had an excellent script but was much more physical and action packed. This version also featured most of the cast we all know from the original series.
Gene didn’t just slap scripts together that were filled with cliches. He did his homework-part of which was researching technical publications, space science, consulting experts in science and technology but especially space.
The result was a TV show (though not without its liberties when it can to space travel) that adhered mostly to science fact, the future vision of technology and man’s advancement as a species.
In author Glenn E. Swanson’s and Schiffer Publication’s hardbound book (with a dust jacket): Inspired Enterprise, readers will discover how NASA, the Smithsonian and the Aerospace Community helped to not only launch Star Trek as TV series but aided in its popularity and relevance in the following decades since its premier.
In-depth analysis of the science community’s contributions, its popular culture explosion and the how, why, when, who, what behind its creation are included.
Archival and recent black and white and full-color photos of both behind-the scenes, in front of the cameras, at gatherings and Star Trek memorabilia are included culminating in a fascinating and engrossing examination of what many consider the most popular Science Fiction TV series ever created.
As a life-long fan of Star Trek, having watched it when it first aired I consider myself a ‘Trekker’ (not a Trekkie). I enjoyed each an every anecdote, analysis and photo showcasing the making of the classic TV series.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
That may sound strange, yet it was a smart move on his part. When Gene presented the Star Trek premise to NBC Westerns were huge money-makers on network TV.
Dozens of Westerns dominated the airways close onto 20 years. Gene himself wrote a number of scripts for Westerns like Have Gun, Will Travel.
Part of the reason he was able to pitch Star Trek was because of his track record of writing good scripts, meeting deadlines and his dependability. Science Fiction TV series were few and far between-many of them cliche filled and somewhat silly.
Gene got the go-ahead to develop a Star Trek pilot episode: The Menagerie. It was a well-written, cerebral script that put forth serious questions and concepts. NBC rejected it as being too slow and intellectual for TV audiences.
In an unprecedented move, NBC ordered a second pilot: Where No Man Has Gone Before. It too had an excellent script but was much more physical and action packed. This version also featured most of the cast we all know from the original series.
Gene didn’t just slap scripts together that were filled with cliches. He did his homework-part of which was researching technical publications, space science, consulting experts in science and technology but especially space.
The result was a TV show (though not without its liberties when it can to space travel) that adhered mostly to science fact, the future vision of technology and man’s advancement as a species.
In author Glenn E. Swanson’s and Schiffer Publication’s hardbound book (with a dust jacket): Inspired Enterprise, readers will discover how NASA, the Smithsonian and the Aerospace Community helped to not only launch Star Trek as TV series but aided in its popularity and relevance in the following decades since its premier.
In-depth analysis of the science community’s contributions, its popular culture explosion and the how, why, when, who, what behind its creation are included.
Archival and recent black and white and full-color photos of both behind-the scenes, in front of the cameras, at gatherings and Star Trek memorabilia are included culminating in a fascinating and engrossing examination of what many consider the most popular Science Fiction TV series ever created.
As a life-long fan of Star Trek, having watched it when it first aired I consider myself a ‘Trekker’ (not a Trekkie). I enjoyed each an every anecdote, analysis and photo showcasing the making of the classic TV series.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
January 1, 2026
Well-researched and thoughtfully presented, this book follows how a screenwriter with an idea, without any background knowledge on sci-fi, went on to create a timeless landmark franchise in the genre, with the help of key individuals and organizations. Star Trek is portrayed here as a gift that keeps on giving; one that began with seeking guidance from aerospace professionals, and evolved into a franchise that has inspired generations of engineers, scientists, and astronauts, and will continue to do so. The curated color palettes featuring stills, props and models, shooting locations, and rare images from meetings of the cast and crew with NASA and the Smithsonian was a feast for the eyes.
While I'm not the biggest Trekkie (yet), I've always enjoyed watching Star Trek and prefer it to Star Wars (despite growing up in a Star Wars-loving household). I think Star Trek speaks louder to me as a real spaceflight nerd because it represents a utopian future in which humanity explores the universe free from trivial problems on Earth that once divided it. Reading this book reinforced that idea, and I learned a great deal from it as I learned about the lengths Gene Roddenberry went to show audiences in the 60s what space exploration in the far future might look like.
As I read this book, I initially felt that Swanson's inclusion of the biographies of the individuals involved in consulting and promoting Star Trek at RAND, NASA, and the Smithsonian was mostly fluff and served little purpose. However, this was beautifully tied together in the afterword, where he speculated that they saw Star Trek as a hopeful vision of the future, inspiring them to rise above and beyond the personal hardships they faced, such as poverty and disabilities.
From a stylistic standpoint, the book is largely factual, with the author reporting events as they happened rather than shaping them into a flowing narrative. While I personally prefer non-fiction that reads like an effortless story, I understand that this is not the book’s intent. It succeeds in doing exactly what it sets out to do: inform the reader about how Star Trek got off the ground. "Inspired Enterprise" has inspired me to go watch TOS lately, especially the episodes mentioned like "Operation — Annihilate!" and "Assignment: Earth". Perhaps I might even buy an AMT Enterprise scale model after this.
While I'm not the biggest Trekkie (yet), I've always enjoyed watching Star Trek and prefer it to Star Wars (despite growing up in a Star Wars-loving household). I think Star Trek speaks louder to me as a real spaceflight nerd because it represents a utopian future in which humanity explores the universe free from trivial problems on Earth that once divided it. Reading this book reinforced that idea, and I learned a great deal from it as I learned about the lengths Gene Roddenberry went to show audiences in the 60s what space exploration in the far future might look like.
As I read this book, I initially felt that Swanson's inclusion of the biographies of the individuals involved in consulting and promoting Star Trek at RAND, NASA, and the Smithsonian was mostly fluff and served little purpose. However, this was beautifully tied together in the afterword, where he speculated that they saw Star Trek as a hopeful vision of the future, inspiring them to rise above and beyond the personal hardships they faced, such as poverty and disabilities.
From a stylistic standpoint, the book is largely factual, with the author reporting events as they happened rather than shaping them into a flowing narrative. While I personally prefer non-fiction that reads like an effortless story, I understand that this is not the book’s intent. It succeeds in doing exactly what it sets out to do: inform the reader about how Star Trek got off the ground. "Inspired Enterprise" has inspired me to go watch TOS lately, especially the episodes mentioned like "Operation — Annihilate!" and "Assignment: Earth". Perhaps I might even buy an AMT Enterprise scale model after this.
June 5, 2026
I should mention upfront that I am not a Trekkie (or Trekker), but I have seen many episodes of Star Trek and can understand why it is well-loved by so many. This book includes so much detailed background and behind-the-scenes information about the show and it’s place in popular culture that any Trekkie should love it.
The first part of the book is divided into chapters focusing on individuals that played key roles in Star Trek’s success, such as Harvey P. Lynn, Jr., who served as the technical & scientific consultant for the early stages of Star Trek, reviewing pre-production scripts for authenticity and believability; and Kellam de Forest, a creative and technical consultant, hired by Gene Roddenberry to fact-check scripts and avoid legal pitfalls. There is also a separate chapter on Stephen Whitfield, who played a duel role—working out a business deal with a toy model company to fund the building of sets for the cash-strapped show and later publishing the best-selling The Making of Star Trek.
The second part of the book included chapters detailing the collaboration with and help provided by the U.S. military, the aerospace industry, NASA, and the Smithsonian Institution (primarily the National Air & Space Museum). There was, of course, a discussion of how NASA changed the name of the first Shuttle from Constitution to Enterprise, in response to a public letter-writing campaign. There was also mention of Nichelle Nichols—who played Lieutenant Uhura in the original Star Trek series—serving as a recruiter for NASA in the late 1970s, to help diversify the astronaut corps.
The most fascinating chapter of the book for me was the final chapter, “Vindication through Syndication,” which tells the story of how this show, which only lasted for 3 seasons before being canceled, became one of the most popular shows in TV history. I found that chapter interesting because it was a subject that I knew nothing about. The book ends with an Afterword, 50 pages of Endnotes (very impressive!), a Bibliography, and an Index. That is definitely the sign of a historian.
In summary, because I am not a Trekkie nor a science fiction enthusiast, I found this book interesting but not overly exciting to read.
The first part of the book is divided into chapters focusing on individuals that played key roles in Star Trek’s success, such as Harvey P. Lynn, Jr., who served as the technical & scientific consultant for the early stages of Star Trek, reviewing pre-production scripts for authenticity and believability; and Kellam de Forest, a creative and technical consultant, hired by Gene Roddenberry to fact-check scripts and avoid legal pitfalls. There is also a separate chapter on Stephen Whitfield, who played a duel role—working out a business deal with a toy model company to fund the building of sets for the cash-strapped show and later publishing the best-selling The Making of Star Trek.
The second part of the book included chapters detailing the collaboration with and help provided by the U.S. military, the aerospace industry, NASA, and the Smithsonian Institution (primarily the National Air & Space Museum). There was, of course, a discussion of how NASA changed the name of the first Shuttle from Constitution to Enterprise, in response to a public letter-writing campaign. There was also mention of Nichelle Nichols—who played Lieutenant Uhura in the original Star Trek series—serving as a recruiter for NASA in the late 1970s, to help diversify the astronaut corps.
The most fascinating chapter of the book for me was the final chapter, “Vindication through Syndication,” which tells the story of how this show, which only lasted for 3 seasons before being canceled, became one of the most popular shows in TV history. I found that chapter interesting because it was a subject that I knew nothing about. The book ends with an Afterword, 50 pages of Endnotes (very impressive!), a Bibliography, and an Index. That is definitely the sign of a historian.
In summary, because I am not a Trekkie nor a science fiction enthusiast, I found this book interesting but not overly exciting to read.
October 12, 2025
Essential for any Trekkie’s bookshelf! Swanson’s meticulously researched work reveals corners of Trekdom that were not previously well-known. The book includes some never before published images and is well worth spending time with.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews