10 Ways Star Trek Changed People's Lives

10. Sent William Shatner into Space

Star Trek made a huge star of William Shatner and guaranteed him a source of income for years to come - there's a reason that convention rhymes with pension! It was a life-changing role for the actor, and he still appears in TV series and movies to this day. On top of this, Shatner made history last year by becoming the first nonagenarian to go into space.

There had been previous attempts to enlist Shatner for a commercial space flight, but the actor had turned down Richard Branson's offer back in 2011. Ten years later, and he had clearly changed his mind.

In what was a shrewd bit of publicity by billionaire Lex Luthor-alike Jeff Bezos, Shatner was offered a place on his Blue Origin capsule. Whilst the former Starship Captain didn't quite make it all the way into space, reaching an altitude of 60 miles above the Earth, it still had a profound effect. On returning to Terra Firma, Shatner spoke of the emotional experience of looking down upon the curvature of the Earth. Before he was abruptly upstaged by Bezos spraying champagne everywhere. Bet he wishes he'd gone with Branson now.