BOLDLY going where no one has gone before is the latest Star Trek series to sail into our TV galaxy. Enterprise is the fourth-spin off since the original series was first screened back in 1966 and takes us back to the maiden voyage of everyone's favourite starship. With the Star Trek name now long gone, we're back in the 22nd century, over 100 years before the starting point of the sci-fi cult show.

The second week of space exploration on Channel 4 at 6pm on Wednesday July 23 sees the Enterprise crew settling into life on ship. Then they discover an abandoned craft whose own crew have been savagely killed as part of a scientific experiment.

Former Quantum Leap star Scott Bakula plays Enterprise Captain Archer, alongside First Officer T'Pol - a strait-laced Vulcan played by Jolene Blalock. Also on board is Dr Phlox, an easy-going medical officer on the inter-galactic quest, portrayed by John Billingsley.

This is still Star Trek - but not as we know it. However, the fascination with the show is as enduring as ever. Sci-Fi expert Jayne Dearsley explains the on-going appeal: ``Star Trek has such a cool factor. It has become iconic.

``For most people they watched it as a child and loved losing themselves into that world, but they can always come back to it and feel comfortable.''

Toby Weidmann, editor of Star Trek magazine, says the show's special effects have helped make it a hit from the beginning. "If you look at the transporter effect in the first series, it is still amazing. The aliens in space, giant floating crystalline entities and giant space battles are out of this world.''

He believes Deep Space Nine, the second spin-off series, has some of the most spectacular space fights on television and points out that, as technology becomes more advanced and costs are reduced, the special effects only get better.

Star Trek has also been good at predicting the future. Toby thinks the communicators are early versions of mobile phones and explains that research is underway in Australia to develop transporters - so far they have managed to transport a beam of light about two metres. ``The influence is so widespread. Even down to future space ships - NASA are looking at the bridge on the Enterprise.''


Technology and special effects aren't the only reasons for the show's high viewing figures. Klingons on the starboard bow might have set many a phaser to stun in the original series, but as the alien race established ties with Star Fleet they also set many a heart fluttering.

Jayne explains: ``A lot of women like Klingons because of their deep, husky voices and they are a very physical race. They are tough, like war - and lots of it - but are also very honourable.''

THE sex appeal doesn't stop there. Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of Mr Spock in the original Star Trek series appealed to many female fans. Explains Jayne: ``He shows no emotion and is a bit of a challenge.''

Race relations

Star Trek showed the first inter-racial kiss on TV in America. Bridge communications officer Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols, kissed Captain Kirk and caused a stir in the US.

``Back in the 60s when it aired, it did wonders for feminism. Uhura was not just a female character with a position of power but also a black female, which was a huge thing back then.''

Jayne reckons the alien races each represent America's perceptions of different cultures. ``You can look back at the show and see so many levels,

``In the 60s the Klingons were the Russians because they were our enemies at the time. The Romulans were the Chinese because they were mysterious with high eyebrows and no one really knew what they were up to, which was also the feeling then."

She also believes the Borg, a collective consciousness, represented a fear of technology and the pool of information which has become the internet - a universe now populated with hundreds of Star Trek websites.