Mike and Denise Okuda recently answered fan questions regarding the forthcoming Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-ray release.

The couple covered a wide range of topics, including their Comic-Con panel this week (which took place earlier today), the cinematic screenings of The Next Generation (Where No One Has Gone Before and Datalore), commentaries, extended editions and lost footage, repairing errors, the possibility of Deep Space Nine in HD and the Okuda’s thoughts on just what Star Trek means to them.

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For Mike and Denise Okuda, remastering Star Trek: The Next Generation means respecting the original work by those who first created the series.

Some fans might think that having Star Trek: The Next Generation remastered means that any mistakes will be fixed this time around. But according to Mike Okuda, that is not necessary so.

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Even though Mike and Denise Okuda have experience with remastering Star Trek, remastering Star Trek: The Next Generation offered its own set of challenges.

In an interview with TrekMovie.com, The Okudas explained their role in remastering The Next Generation, which is a bit different than when they worked on the original series remastered project. “On the original series remastered we were creative producers along with Dave Rossi,” said Mike Okuda. “Here we consultants to CBS and we are dealing with visual effects, but we are also helping them on an overall basis.”

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Today’s iPad is not so very different from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Personal Access Display Device (PADD).

Science fiction often influences the development of new technology and in the case of the communicator and the PADD, fans today can see that with flip cellphones and the Apple iPad.

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Recently, the proposed budget for NASA was announced and to the disappointment of many, Project Constellation, a six-year, nine billion dollar project which would have led men back to the moon, was not a part of future plans.

Star Trek designers Mike and Denise Okuda disagree with the new direction in the space program and have sent a letter to fans, encouraging them to write to President Obama and to their elected representatives in hopes of getting Project Constellation restored.

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Michael Okuda has been designing mission patches for NASA for years and his patches include several for the Constellation program.

The first flight of NASA’s Ares I-X launched successfully this morning from launchpad 39B at Kennedy Space Center. Okuda designed a patch for the Ares (launch vehicle,) Orion (crew vehicle) and Constellation program (under which both Ares and Orion falls.)

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A bit of confusion regarding one of the bonus specials on the forthcoming original series Third Season Blu-Ray release is cleared up by Michael Okuda.

The bonus special in question was titled “Where No Fan Has Gone Before,” and speculation was that this was the original Star Trek pilot The Cage.

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Star Trek art designer Mike Okuda will be recognized next month for his contributions to the look of the U.S. space program

As reported by Wired, Okuda, well-known to Star Trek fans for his many contributions over the years dating back to the days of Star Trek: The Next Generation, will receive the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal for his work on multiple exploration missions. (more…)