Actor William Shatner, best known for his role as Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek, speaks to attendees at the annual GEOINT Symposium, June 5, 2017. Credit: USGIF
Sci-fi celebrity William Shatner meets GEOINT celebrity Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, at the annual GEOINT Symposium, June 5, 2017. Credit: USGIF
Sci-fi celebrity William Shatner meets GEOINT celebrity Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, at the annual GEOINT Symposium, June 5, 2017. Credit: USGIF

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Captain James T. Kirk himself, actor William Shatner, visited the opening ceremonies of the annual GEOINT Symposium Monday.

The Star Trek actor said he’s trying to create a new TV program to focus on young professionals at NASA, at the moment called “The Young Guns of NASA.”

Shatner said he wants to find out what “young scientists who are involved in planning new things at NASA, JPL” are curious about, and where they feel space efforts should be invested.

“What significant thing should our science or this country do? Where should we apply this intelligence and this American know-how?” Shatner said. “These young minds [are] coming to bear on problems that old people may not have thought of.”

Phillip Swarts is the military space reporter for SpaceNews. He previously covered space and advanced technology for Air Force Times, the Justice Department for The Washington Times, and investigative journalism for the Washington Guardian;...