On the 227th episode of the This Week In Space podcast, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcomed special guest Michael Okuda to celebrate six decades of the Star Trek franchise. Okuda, alongside his wife and other collaborators, played a pivotal role in defining the visual identity, linguistic elements, and technical depth of the Star Trek universe.
Described as the “Cardinal of Canon” regarding all matters Trek-related, Okuda contributed to iconic elements such as the LCARS graphical user interface, alien languages, production designs, color schemes, and the digital remastering of the original series. Beyond Star Trek, he has lent his expertise to numerous space-themed television programs, publications, and NASA initiatives.
In addition to the special interview, the episode highlighted several key developments in the space industry. Reports confirmed that China is progressing toward a 2028 launch for its Mars sample-return mission, a move some analysts have likened to a modern “Sputnik moment.” The show also discussed the U.S. military’s first-ever “live fly” orbital dogfighting exercise and recalled the perspective of a NASA astronaut who witnessed the September 11 attacks from orbit 25 years ago.
The episode featured links to the Roddenberry Archive and Okuda’s posts on X. Listeners were also introduced to new collectible items, including a detailed scale model of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket manufactured by Estes. Priced at $149.99, the launchable model offers a realistic recreation of the vehicle, with a 10% discount available through code IN-COLLECTSPACE provided by partners collectSPACE.com.
This Week In Space, which airs weekly on Friday afternoons, continues to explore topics ranging from the lunar race to potential crewed missions to Mars. The program remains available for subscription on major podcast platforms.
That Falcon 9 model kit sounds expensive but incredibly detailed. Any space enthusiasts here?
Sixty years? Time flies when you’re watching episodes on the TOS remaster. Great tribute episode.
I didn’t know the host was involved in that orbital dogfighting exercise detail. Pretty wild stuff.
China’s 2028 Mars mission timeline is impressive. Do you think they’ll beat the US to sample return?
Michael Okuda is an absolute legend. That LCARS interface defined our visual future!