Captain Kirk teams with NASA to promote ‘spinoff’ technologies

William Shatner, June Lockhart and Wil Wheaton are the latest group of entertainers to film public service announcements that highlight how NASA’s accomplishments in space are used to improve life on Earth.

The actors share how science fiction has become science fact, resulting in new commercial products and services that are tangible returns on investments in space technology. This includes many technologies used in schools, homes, cars, computers and American industry.

“It’s an honor to have such talented space entertainment legends donate their time to voice support for the spinoff benefits NASA brings to the nation and the world,” said NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck. “As we turn science fiction concepts into real technologies for use in NASA missions, we’re constantly creating ‘spinoffs’ — commercialized products and services that have practical, down-to-Earth applications of immediate benefit to the public.”

The new videos are the latest in a series of celebrity educational videos aimed at increasing public awareness of the return on investment in space technology while encouraging the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, education and mathematics.