Historic collaboration will feature w programming to mark 60 years of Star Trek and 90 years of JPL

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As both storied institutions observe milestone anniversaries in 2026, Roddenberry Entertainment, torchbearers of the Star Trek franchise and Gene Roddenberry’s legacy, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech have planned an exciting activation, bringing two stargazing stewards of science fiction and science together in an exciting extension of their enduring collaboration.

For Roddenberry Entertainment, September 8 marks the 60th anniversary of the day Gene Roddenberry’s groundbreaking sci-fi drama premiered on NBC. In over half a century since, The Original Series has grown into a sprawling universe of 12 spin-off television series, 13 feature films, and countless books, comics, and video games.

Meanwhile, October 31 marks nine decades since a group of Caltech graduate students and fellow enthusiasts began experimenting with rocketry in a dry riverbed near La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. The years that followed would see JPL grow from a test site in the Arroyo Seco to the crown jewel of Earth’s extra-planetary robotic research ambitions. Voyager, the Mars rovers, and the Deep Space Network all trace their beginnings to JPL.

Caltech JPL and Roddenberry Entertainment have shared a special relationship over their histories. Throughout the development and production of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry consulted often with JPL scientists and engineers to ensure that his vision of a spacefaring future was as feasible and believable as possible. In the 1970s, Roddenberry contacted John Casani, then JPL’s Voyager project manager, who loaned Roddenberry a physical model of the Voyager probe, inspiring the sentient spacecraft V’Ger from “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

Roddenberry’s desire to ground his science fiction in real-world science meant a continued need to work closely with the real-world scientists at JPL. His stories and those that followed have honored those scientific advancements that have enabled us to travel to the stars in our time. In turn, many at JPL and Caltech proudly attribute their career paths to Star Trek and its vision of an interstellar future guided by reason, inclusion, and mutual aspiration.

The hub of this united celebration comes in the form of a uniquely exciting interview series titled “Those Who Look Up.”

VIEW “THOSE WHO LOOK UP” TEASER HERE

Those Who Look Up

Going all the way back to The Original Series, Gene Roddenberry sought inspiration from scientists of the day, whose work could catapult the mind into the 23rd century. Honoring the inspiration Gene found in science, and looking at the subsequent reverberative effect Star Trek has had on the scientific community, Roddenberry Entertainment will be releasing its “Those Who Look Up” series – A collection of interviews featuring JPL and Caltech subject matter experts and Star Trek actors. The series will showcase the synergy between the two entities, and give human faces to the enduring intersection between science and science fiction. JPLers and Star Trek stars will explore how the work they do every day has influenced another person, another industry, and the world at large.

The series will be structured in a way that reflects the cyclical nature of the rapport between Star Trek and Caltech JPLers. Including four people from JPL and four members of Star Trek talent, the series begins with a JPLer interviewing a Star Trek actor, who, in turn, interviews another JPLer. That JPLer then interviews another Star Trek actor, who interviews another JPLer. At the series conclusion, the last person in the sequence will close the loop by interviewing the person who conducted the first interview.

“Having been lucky enough to visit JPL on a number of occasions, I’ve often considered the wonderful gift JPL gave to my father and Star Trek so long ago,” said Roddenberry Entertainment CEO Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr. “Now, to recognize that his creation has reciprocated in such a significant way, and to see that in the faces of individuals who participated in our series, is tremendously rewarding.”

ABOUT RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT

Roddenberry Entertainment is a science fiction leader, passionately providing thought-provoking, quality genre entertainment that sustains the legacy of our founder, Gene Roddenberry. We are devoted to producing viewer-centric entertainment that actively recognizes the integral role audiences play in the creation of any franchise, as well as the role substantive entertainment can play in bettering society. Our productions promote experience over observation; encouraging audiences to think, question and challenge the status quo of the world in which we live.

ABOUT NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

A division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL is NASA’s center of excellence for robotics and deep space exploration. The federally funded research and development center helped launch America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958, and became a part of the agency later that year. Since then, JPL has managed such historic missions as Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, the Mars Exploration Rover program, the Perseverance Mars rover, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, Europa Clipper, and many more.

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SOURCE Roddenberry Entertainment

The article explains how space, trailer access, security, location, and property conditions can affect the choice of boat storage.

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should you look for when choosing boat storage? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Patrick McAlpin of McAlpin Self Storage in Canandaigua, New York, provides the answer.

The HelloNation article explains that choosing boat storage involves more than finding a space large enough for the boat. Owners should consider the boat’s dimensions, trailer, towing vehicle, and their usual boating routine. Evaluating these practical details can make storing and retrieving a boat easier.

The article recommends measuring the boat and trailer as they will actually be stored. This includes the trailer tongue, motor, swim platform, tower, and anything else that adds length or height. Width also matters because owners need enough clearance to walk around the boat and reach equipment.

According to the article, easy trailer access is an important consideration when evaluating a boat storage facility. Gates, narrow turns, posts, curbs, and nearby vehicles can make maneuvering longer trailers more difficult. Wider driving lanes and simple parking arrangements can be particularly useful for owners who retrieve their boats regularly.

The article also describes the importance of examining the parking surface and drainage. Pavement can provide firm footing, while properly maintained gravel can also support stable boat parking. Owners should look for major ruts, soft areas, standing water, and steep slopes that could make parking or towing more difficult.

Boat storage security is another practical consideration covered in the article. Security measures may include fencing, gated entry, surveillance cameras, lighting, and controlled access systems. The article notes that owners should consider where these features are positioned and how they cover entrances, parking areas, and common travel routes.

Lighting can also make routine tasks easier for owners who leave early or return after sunset. The article explains that adequate lighting can help when hitching a trailer, inspecting connections, securing a cover, removing equipment, or checking the boat before leaving.

Storage hours should match the way an owner normally uses the boat. The article notes that frequent boat access may make convenient hours, straightforward entrances, and wider aisles more important. For seasonal storage, these factors may carry less weight because the boat is moved less often.

Location is another factor to consider. The article recommends looking at travel time between the storage location, home, and the launch an owner typically uses. A facility closer to the water might reduce towing time, while another location may be more convenient for maintenance visits.

Weather exposure can also influence the storage decision. The article distinguishes among outdoor, covered, and indoor storage based on their separation from sun, rain, wind, and changing temperatures. The appropriate choice depends on the boat and how long it will remain in storage.

The HelloNation article also encourages owners to compare cost with the features they will realistically use. A lower price may provide less value if difficult turns or inconvenient access interfere with normal use. Additional features may also provide little value when they do not match an owner’s boating habits.

The article concludes that a practical storage choice should make storing and retrieving a boat straightforward. Appropriate space, stable boat parking, reliable lighting, manageable access, and a workable property layout can help owners choose storage that supports their normal routine.

What to Look for When Choosing Boat Storage features insights from Patrick McAlpin, Self Storage Expert of Canandaigua, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

Design-build project in Mississippi will add needed support for growing demand driven by electrification and data centers

STARKVILLE, Miss., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gray, a nationally recognized construction and engineering firm with deep experience in design-build delivery, today joined Southwire, one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers, to break ground on a major expansion of the company’s Starkville manufacturing campus.

Gray is providing design-build services for the project, which will add approximately 380,000 s.f. to the facility and create approximately 130 new jobs. The expansion is part of Southwire’s companywide commitment of more than $2 billion in modernization to meet rising demand driven by electrification and the rapid growth of data centers.

Gray’s scope includes demolition of two existing structures totaling roughly 40,000 s.f., followed by construction of a new manufacturing space, including a six-story tower for the extrusion process used to jacket copper wire. Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, the facility will include a rainwater collection system for gray water reuse and provisions for future solar opportunities. Southwire’s existing operations will remain active throughout construction.

“This facility is built for the long term,” said Rebekah Gray, President and CEO of Gray Construction. “As the data center market continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, every new campus depends on the power infrastructure that Southwire helps produce. We’re proud to help create a facility that will serve Starkville and their customers for generations.”

At its peak construction, nearly 250 workers are expected on site, and the expanded facility is expected to reach full capacity in 2028.

About Gray

Gray is a nationally recognized construction and engineering firm, delivering end-to-end solutions in construction, professional services, equipment fabrication, and real estate. Since 1960, we have grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked leader, serving the world’s leading companies across the industrial marketplace. As a fully integrated design-builder, Gray brings specialized expertise together under one team helping customers reduce risk, accelerate schedules, and deliver better business outcomes.  

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. 

About Southwire

Southwire Company, LLC is North America’s leading wire and cable company. The $9.7B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire’s products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.

Media Contact:
Abby Johnson
Vice President, Marketing
606.923.2062
ajohnson@gray.com
gray.com

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SOURCE Gray Construction