Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the bridge of the Enterprise to the frontiers of real-world exploration, science fiction and science fact have long inspired one another.
Franchises like “Star Trek” both shape and reflect the culture of discovery — connecting imaginative storytelling with the engineering, technology, and science driving humanity’s future in space.
In the first episode of JPL’s new NXT in Space series, host Greg Ivan Smith is joined by Ethan Peck (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”) and JPL human-centered designer Krys Blackwood for a conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and the shared spirit that connects sci-fi visionaries with today’s space explorers.
Together, they examine the parallels between the optimistic ethos of “Star Trek” and the interdisciplinary work underway at JPL.
NXT in Space is a new series from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that brings together industry leaders, creatives, and futurists to explore how collaboration can accelerate innovation and push the boundaries of what’s possible. More episodes are coming soon!
Credit: JPL-Caltech
From the bridge of the Enterprise to the frontiers of real-world exploration, science fiction and science fact have long inspired one another.
Franchises like “Star Trek” both shape and reflect the culture of discovery — connecting imaginative storytelling with the engineering, technology, and science driving humanity’s future in space.
In the first episode of JPL’s new NXT in Space series, host Greg Ivan Smith is joined by Ethan Peck (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”) and JPL human-centered designer Krys Blackwood for a conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and the shared spirit that connects sci-fi visionaries with today’s space explorers.
Together, they examine the parallels between the optimistic ethos of “Star Trek” and the interdisciplinary work underway at JPL.
NXT in Space is a new series from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that brings together industry leaders, creatives, and futurists to explore how collaboration can accelerate innovation and push the boundaries of what’s possible. More episodes are coming soon!
Credit: JPL-Caltech
