Why is ‘Star Trek’ Day celebrated on September 8?

Today, Monday Sep. 8, is Star Trek Day - a celebration that coincides with the anniversary of the iconic sci-fi franchise’s television debut.

Nearly 60 years of Star Trek

It was on this day in 1966 that Star Trek first aired on the small screen in the United States. American viewers tuned in to watch the episode “The Man Trap”, in which the crew of the star ship the USS Enterprise are attacked by a shape-changing alien that kills its victims by extracting salt from their bodies.

Since Star Trek’s TV premiere just under six decades ago, ‘Trekkies’ have not only been treated to 78 further episodes of what has gone on to be dubbed The Original Series. The show has also spawned no fewer than 11 spin-off series, as well as a host of movies and a collection of sub-20-minute shorts, known as Short Treks. There have also been video games, books and comic books.

Star Trek: Khan podcast

For fans there’s a fresh way to experience Star Trek. A new podcast premieres on Sep. 8, 2025, narrating what happened to Khan Noonien Singh between Star Trek: The Original Series' “Space Seed” and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

The podcast will have nine episodes, with a new instalment posted each Monday.

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