How important a role has real science had in the success of Star Trek?

Well, I think any science fiction has to rely, to some degree, on real science. We deal with, oddly enough, two different kinds of sciences on Star Trek. We deal with real science, astro-physics, physics and astronomy, the different elements of having to do with space travel, et cetera. And then we deal with a mythological science, a Star Trek made up science that although fictional, has been around for thirty-five years. As a result, we are beholden to follow it. There are very specific rules about Warp speed, tractor beams, transportation and things like that, so we have to follow two sets of rules.

We have advisors in both capacities. We have science advisors who both feed us potential ideas and correct us when we are looking for things having to do with science. Most first and second drafts of scripts will often just have the word 'TECH,' in it. it will say something like, 'Joanna will say, we need to TECH the tech.' And those capital TECH's end up being rewritten with the help of our science people.