The Star Trek cast and crew included writer/producer Damon Lindelof and stars Chris Pine, John Cho, and Alice Eve. They talked to astronauts Michael Fincke and Kjell Lindgren at the Johnson Space Center, and Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station.

Abrams was not able to participate in the live event, but he started off the questions with a video that was recorded earlier. He asked:

I wish I could be there, but I couldn’t attend, so I am doing this very important question on video, which is the following. I talked to an astronaut once who told me on one of his missions he actually did see something really strange that he couldn’t explain that made him believe in extraterrestrial life, and my question to you is. Have either of you ever seen anything that made you believe that, or something you couldn’t explain or couldn’t understand, that you didn’t really necessarily share with the public, but that you want to share with us now? Thanks.

Astronauts Michael Fincke (left) and Kjell Lindgren. (Credit: NASA)

Fincke replied:

That was a great question from J.J., we get that question a lot. We all want to know, ‘are we the only ones out there?’And Star Trek helps us imagine what it could be like if there were other creatures, other people, other species. I spent a whole year in space, 381 days, but it is only 240 miles up, so that’s not very far in cosmic terms. So we think as we go farther out, and into the universe, we might find something out there that we don’t know about. I have never seen anything, maybe Kjell will on his mission, but I think as we go farther out, with the inspiration we get from you guys making these great feats of imagination and excitement, the movies that you make,  inspire us to be our best as human beings on planet earth.

Everyone laughed and got a kick out of the question and the answer, Lindelof commented, “What a great answer. Mike, can you confirm you have not been taken over by aliens? It felt a little too polished.”

Fincke said, “No, I have done this before and I am an American human being who loves being part of our space program, and we all look up to you guys to inspire us.”

To which Lindelof replied, “Now we know something is seriously wrong.”

Star Trek Into Darkness cast and crew (from left): Actor John Cho, Writer/Producer Damon Lindelof, Actress Alice Eve, Actor Chris Pine. (Credit: NASA)

The spirit of the conversation was light and fun. The Star Trek members repeatedly commented on what a thrill it as to be talking to the astronauts, especially one in space.

Alice Eve

On an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Eve told Kimmel:

That was definitely the coolest thing we’ve done. I mean, we’ve shared the movie with countries around the world, but we got to Skype… with the guy in a space station. And he was turning around in the air when we were talking to him and when he would talk, he would suddenly let go of his mic and it would just stay there. It was a very weird experience.

However, Eve also says she found Fincke’s answer to Abrams’ question unconvincing. She told Kimmel:

J.J. asked this question, ‘So have you seen alien life?’… and the response that the guys at the NASA base gave us… was so rehearsed and so clear that they had seen (aliens).

She then nervously said she thought she might get abducted for saying this. Kimmel respond  “Interesting, so you believe there is a party line that they are given, and they kind of have to regurgitate it.”

Kimmel, obviously enamored by the beautiful actress, asked if she believed in aliens, she said she did and he quickly responded, “then I do too.”

While Eve is not convinced the astronauts are telling the truth, another interesting question would be who Abrams spoke to, and what did the astronaut see to convince him of extraterrestrial life? If any of you happen to bump into him, be sure to ask.

In this episode, we talk with Ben Hansen of SyFy’s Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files about a recent UFO he witnessed in Huntington Beach, California. That and other UFO and space news on this episode of Spacing Out!