Space exploration

"Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. He 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."

- Captain James T. Kirk

'''Vrooom! Whoosh! Zoom!''' That's the sound of a rocket taking off into outer space. Space exploration is a common storytelling convention featured in films of the science fiction genre. Put simply, it involves and kind of travel from one planet (usually Earth) to another. Space travel can be accomplished through any number of space-worthy conveyances be it space shuttles, rocket ships, single-person flight suits, or even a TARDIS!

Humans aren't the only ones that engage in space travel. Aliens do it too. For some reason however, more often than not, these alien cultures engage in space travel for the purpose of finding some other world to conquer, usually Earth. Some alien races try to lull the people of Earth into a false sense of security, operating under the pretense of being friendly. Others don't bother with all of that hoop-lah and just rain fiery destruction down on our popular landmarks courtesy of their awesome death rays. Fortunately, the people of Earth tend to be quite resourceful, and they don't take too kindly to some foreign invader encroaching upon our territory looking to start some crap. With some committed, driven military personnel, Earthlings have a good record for punting their alien asses back into space.

Space travel and exploration is one of the primary tropes featured in the Star Trek film series, which takes its cues from the original 1966 Star Trek television series, as well as its various spin-offs. In the films, space travel was generally conducted while investigating some strange cosmic phenomenon that posed a curiosity and potential threat to the people of Earth.