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Joe Desimone, 10, pretends to fire a phaser at an alien while attending the "Star Trek: Mission New York" convention in New York, U.S., Sept. 2, 2016. Reuters

The "Star Trek" series turned 50 years old Thursday, marking another landmark for the seminal space age story that has helped redefine entertainment in the United States. The show celebrated for its diverse case, wacky technology and "Trekkie" culture has traced the voyages of the Starship Enterprise in movies, TV shows and comic books.

Leonard Nimoy, who died in February 2015, helped make the show a pop culture icon with his portrayal of Mr. Spock, as did William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk. But the show created by Gene Roddenberry was not an immediate hit. The first seasons saw low ratings. In syndication, however, it won over legions of fans.

"When we went into syndication, different people watched it and, all of a sudden, it caught fire and became what we know now in countries around the world. And people’s lives were influenced by these characters. And then the movies began, and J.J. Abrams took hold of the franchise, and now it’s illumined once again," Shatner has said.

The initial 1960s NBC series eventually spawned five more TV shows, including a cartoon, and 12 films. The latest film, "Star Trek Beyond," opened July 22.

Below are 10 qoutes and photos to celebrate the show.

1. "I have been, and always shall be, your friend." - Spock

2. "Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." - Kirk

3. "Live long and prosper." - Spock

4. "Highly illogical." - Spock

5. "To boldy go where no man has gone before." - Kirk

6. "The farther out we go, the more I find myself wondering what it is we are trying to accomplish. But if the universe is truly endless, then we are not striving for something forever out of reach." - Kirk

7. "There's no such thing as the unknown- only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood." - Kirk

8. “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.” - Spock

9. "Insufficient facts always invite danger." - Spock

10. "Without followers, evil cannot spread." - Spock

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