The Voyager Space Probes - Episode 104

The Voyager Space Probes - Episode 104

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto October 5, 2018 Duration: 43:02

When it was revealed at the end of Star Trek The Motion Picture that a Voyager probe was actually the mysterious V'Ger, moviegoers experienced instant recognition.

Voyager 1 and 2 had launched just two years before and in 1979, both probes were in the news again as they approached Jupiter. So audiences easily recognized the name and the shape of the Voyager probe in the movie.  Talk about being timely! The star Trek production team hit a home run with this surprise reveal.

NASA Inspires Livingston and Roddenberry

It's brilliant what Harold Livingston and Gene Roddenberry did. By placing a Voyager probe at the center of the story for The Motion Picture, they tied their futuristic movie to real events that were happening in 1979.

Voyager 1 was in the news in the fall of 1978 as it approached Jupiter. Clearly Livingston and Roddenberry heard the news, and decided to make it part of the story.

And Voyager 1 and 2 remained in the news from January to August in 1979 as both probes passed by Jupiter. So audiences heard the name Voyager, and saw images of the probes for 8 months in 1979. So all of it was still fresh in their minds when they watched Star Trek The Motion Picture in December 1979.

On this week's episode of 70s Trek, Bob turner and Kelly Casto tell you about the two Voyager space probes that inspired The Motion Picture.


Dive into the fascinating decade when Star Trek lived on without a single new episode airing on television. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto guide 70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s through a detailed exploration of how a cancelled series refused to fade away. This podcast digs into the people who kept the flame burning-the original cast finding new voices in animation and convention halls, the writers and artists expanding the universe in novels and comics, and the passionate fans who created a blueprint for modern fandom. Each discussion connects the dots between the show's internal creative shifts and the wider cultural currents of the seventies that it both reflected and influenced. You'll hear about the specific efforts, from fan-led letter campaigns to Paramount's strategic decisions, that slowly built the momentum leading to a theatrical rebirth. It's a story of resilience and reinvention, examining not just what happened but how it felt to be part of that enduring phenomenon during those years. For anyone curious about the hidden history between the original series and "The Motion Picture," this podcast offers a rich, conversational deep dive into the community and commerce that made a comeback inevitable. Join Turner and Casto as they unpack the legacy of a show that was technically off the air, yet somehow more alive than ever.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s
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