'Star Trek' and NASA: A Mind-Meld of Science Fiction and Fact in Pictures

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Nichelle Nichols Visits Again

NASA

Salute to Leonard Nimoy

NASA

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti gave the Vulcan salute aboard the International Space Station shortly after the passing of Leonard Nimoy on Feb. 28, 2015. She commented on Tweeter: "'Of all the souls I have encountered...his was the most human.' Thx @TheRealNimoy for bringing Spock to life for us”

Becoming Janeway

ESA/NASA

In April 2015, Cristoforetti also tweeted this photo of her best Capt. Kathryn Janeway impression while posing in the International Space Station in a "Star Trek: Voyager"-style uniform.

"'There's coffee in that nebula' ... ehm, I mean... in that #Dragon," Cristoforetti wrote in a Twitter post on April 17, 2015, while pointing out a window at a visiting Dragon cargo ship carrying 4,300 lbs. (1,950 kilograms) of food, scientific experiments and other supplies (and yes, coffee). The Dragon delivered the first-ever space espresso machine to the space station.

Nina Sen
Contributing Writer and Producer

Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.