Matthew Munson: The Science Museum and 60 years of Star Trek

Easter is over, schools are about to go back, and reality is very firmly taking root once again. I’d personally like a third week off, but not turning up for work “just because” is frowned upon, if I remember the basics of employment law correctly.

We’d had a simple enough break, centred around dancing (for Bryan), holiday camp (for Bryan), and some days out (for us). That’s enough for me; as long as I get some time with my brilliant son, I’m happy.

He and I went up to London on Thursday. We had a day at London Zoo planned, although the weather forecast changed the day before and predicted drizzly rain for most of the day. However, we powered on, as a bit of rain didn’t put us off.

We pulled into St Pancras, however, and the rain was heavier than even the multiple weather apps I’d been studying intently had predicted. Dammit, I muttered under my breath – this was enough for me to think, “Nope.”

However, we’d reached London and I really didn’t want to just turn round and come straight home – although, judging by Bryan’s face, he didn’t want to trudge round the zoo in the rain either.

I thought quickly and came up with a solution – a museum. They’re classics, and always changing, so we were eager to see what they could offer. We settled on the Science Museum but didn’t book the extra exhibitions – we knew there wouldn’t be enough time for everything. So, we popped over on the (packed) tube, and a geeky part of my soul cheered as we walked into the science museum to see the announcement that they were celebrating 60 years of Star Trek.

Now, I am the first to admit that I am a science fiction and fantasy geek of the highest order – and Star Trek is probably up there in the first rank (as least to me). I can talk about the differences between Cardassians and Bajorans, I can tell you why Surak means a lot to the Vulcans, and I can recognise a Starfleet rank insignia from fifty paces. My teens were my uber-fan era, but a lot of the information has just … well, lodged itself in my brain and never left.

So, you can imagine my joy when I saw the acknowledgement in the museum of 60 years of Star Trek. There was a pop-up shop, where there was a captain’s chair – and yes, I sat in it. Twice. There were also stands with various props or costumes around the museum; you’d better believe I found every single one of them.

Bryan followed me indulgently; I’ve introduced him to various series of Star Trek, and he likes them, but I doubt his teens will be as uber-geeked as mine was – although dance is probably his equivalent. You’ll see the picture Bryan took of me in the chair. Just call me Captain Munson.

In the end, we spent a very productive few hours in the museum. The museum had closed off its space gallery, and was actively re-working it – unsurprising, given the new ambitions for space travel with the Artemis missions.

I, for one, am excited about the future of space travel; there seems to be more of a commitment to outer space now than there has been in my memory. Trips to the moon, a trip to Mars (hopefully), and determination to see what else is out there. I love this; we need to be ambitious about exploring our tiny part of the galaxy. No-one alive today will see the end results of our space exploration, which I hope is long and fruitful, but I’m genuinely glad that I’m here at the early stages of a new beginning.

I like these types of holiday; slow, relaxed, and just spending time at home. It’s nice to just stop and relax a little, especially when the day-to-day routine quickly takes over again – Bryan will be starting two terms of preparation for a dance show, and I’ll be carrying on with my book series. But I’ve had time with my son, and I can’t object to that.