JULY 22, 1968–WILLIAM SHATNER SAYS STAR TREK IS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN THE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AMONG SCIENTISTS AND ROCKET ENGINEERS. LAST SPRING, SHATNER WAS INVITED TO TOUR CAPE KENNEDY. THE PEOPLE AT THE CAPE ARE OUT OF THEIR MINDS FOR THE SHOW. “I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT–THEY WERE ASKING ME FOR AUTOGRAPHS. I WAS GIVEN THE ROYAL TREATMENT BY THE SCIENTISTS AND ASTRONAUTS AND WAS PRIVILEGED TO ACTUALLY ENTER THE APOLLO SPACE CRAFT. THEY ALLOWED ME TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF AN ASTRONAUT IN THE APOLLO MODEL. I WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE SIMULATED ATMOSPHERE ON A TV SCREEN WHEN A REPLICA OF THE ENTERPRISE FLOATED BY. YOU DON’T KNOW HOW HUMBLE I FELT AT THIS KIND OF TREATMENT.”
“I FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE’VE DESIGNED ON STAR TREK ARE ACTUAL FACTS. THE SCIENTISTS AT THE CAPE ENJOY OUR SHOW BECAUSE IT GIVES AN INSIGHT ON WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BE LIKE. THEY WERE AS FASCINATED WITH STAR TREK AS I WAS WITH THEM.”