Happy First Contact Day!

By: H&I Staff     Posted: April 5, 2017, 10:03AM

Image: StarTrek.com

Today marks the first contact humans received from aliens. Vulcans to be more specific. According to the Star Trek canon, open contact was established between Vulcans and humans on this day in 2063 in Bozeman, Montana. 

We know, we know, we're celebrating a day that hasn't happened. Yet. However, that's not going to stop us from loving science fiction. Startrek.com recently asked Ronald D. Moore, the co-write of Star Trek: First Contact, why they chose April 5th as First Contact Day. Turns out, "April 5 is (his) oldest son, Jonathan's birthday. And that's the only reason the date was chosen." 

In the Trek universe, the Vulcan ship T’Plana-Hath landed in Bozeman, Montana on that fateful day in 2063 after tracking the warp signature of the mankind's attempt to contact alien life, the spacecraft Phoenix. Needless to say, this monumental first contact paved the way for the creation of the United Federation of Planets. 

Want to learn more about First Contact Day? Check out Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Metamorphisis" featuring Glenn Corbett as Cochrane, Star Trek: The Next Generation film First Contact featuring James Cromwell and the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Homestead" where Neelix throws a party celebrating the 315th anniversary of First Contact Day. 

Happy First Contact Day and happy birthday Jonathan! 

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