This holiday season we honor an anniversary of literally out of this world significance. Back in 1968, shaken but still on track to meet its challenging deadline, NASA leapt forward in a colossal stroke of ambition and confidence to undertake a journey from the Earth to the Moon. Without a functioning lunar module there was no chance of a landing anyway, but the audacity of the attempt brought the reality of the Apollo program into focus as nothing had before.

Humanity's first ambassadors to our large natural satellite carried the aspirations of countless others, those throughout history who looked up longingly from their home deep inside a gravity well. The novelty for Anders, Borman, and Lovell during their six day, ten orbit visit was to experience the reverse, looking down on that home from on high. They not only sampled the spiritual impact personally but also provided it for the rest. Those unprecedented images of Earthrise brought another reality into inadvertent and unexpected focus, the fragile beauty of our planet buoyed against an immense void. As Borman said, "the Earth was the only thing in the universe that had any color." Anyone immune to the bewildering splendor of that contrast has seriously depleted reserves of inspiration and awe.

While Apollo was quickly ramping up in late 1968 Star Trek was slowly winding down, towards an ember that flared erratically for about a decade. On the front lines keeping that fire burning were Gene and Majel Barrett Roddenberry, always outspoken in their beliefs but unmistakably genuine in their affection for each other and for the fans. Even after the Great Bird left to go wherever Great Birds go, Majel remained to attend and encourage his legacy. Sadly during this time for celebration, we learned last week that the First Lady of Star Trek had passed to the undiscovered country to join her husband.

There is no doubt about the magnitude of the star-light she brought the series from the absolute very beginning (she being of course, the original Number One longer than the character Riker has been around). From prominence in TOS and TNG to featuring in the other series (and thankfully, we are assured, the new movie) she lays arguable claim to broadest influence of any Trek actor. With deepest condolences to her family, on behalf of Trekkers everywhere in fond and poignant recollection, thank you for nurturing the far-flung vision of the human adventure that the Apollo 8 crew managed to briefly realize, one bright Christmas-time forty years ago.