It has been 50 years since the first episode of Star Trek was broadcast, bringing Mr Spock, Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura to our TV screens.

Leonard Nimoy as Spock and William Shatner as Kirk in the original Star Trek TV series (Globe Photos/Zuma Press/PA)

Naturally, Trekkies are excited.

Fans paid tribute to the timeless TV show on its birthday.

#StarTrek50
Happy Birthday Star Trek, after 50 years you still have the best characters and ideas (with NASA) 💋🎂🎁🎈 pic.twitter.com/KKAgzbLZzM

— janet france (@janetfrance) September 8, 2016

@StarTrek Happy birthday to the World’s best looking 50-year old!

— Tobias Sonestedt (@Flamingolane) September 8, 2016

Happy early birthday to one of the best sci-fi shows ever. Love you so much Star Trek. Happy 50th 🖖🏾🖖🏾 pic.twitter.com/Kx6GLgXHj3

— Jere⟠& (@jerelyn94) September 8, 2016

One fan yearned for her own moment of tenderness like Captain Kirk and Mr Spock.

I just want someone to look at me the way Captain Kirk looked at Mr. Spock.#StarTrek50 pic.twitter.com/pmiYmTYWcU

— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) September 8, 2016

People paid tribute to the show, which featured a diverse cast and the first inter-racial kiss between a white man (Kirk) and a black woman (Uhura, as played by Nichelle Nichols) on television.

(BFI)

@SPACEdotcom @DarkMattersProj @StarTrek
The best and most inspiring dream of Star Trek is the all inclusive multi-racial multi-species crew

— paul quigley (@QUIGGYPAULS) September 8, 2016

showed us that sometimes the best thing you can do for the worst parts of society is to let them self-destruct. History always marches on.

— Last Ming Standing (@NateMing) September 8, 2016

And when Star Trek asked for selfies to celebrate the birthday…

Post your best #StarTrek50 selfie to celebrate 50 years! #LLAP50 pic.twitter.com/66pWnv0gzz

— Star Trek (@StarTrek) September 7, 2016

Fans happily obliged.

@StarTrek #startrek50 #llap50years pic.twitter.com/c0YTxnxhKQ

— cafedunoir (@cafedunoir) September 7, 2016

@StarTrek #LLAP50 #StarTrek50 pic.twitter.com/FEJJNVqSoy

— karla♡ (@xWorldwideGirl) September 7, 2016

@StarTrek #StarTrek50 #LLAP50 Live Long And Prosper 💜 @WilliamShatner @adam_nimoy pic.twitter.com/lhD9vBXpyV

— Mandy LLAP (@AmandaThelwell) September 7, 2016

@StarTrek vulcan love ! #LLAP50 #StarTrek50 pic.twitter.com/6TDDX56KPH

— t'luaranoko D'vinn (@COP_Frostfox) September 7, 2016

Star Trek turns 50 today? I know what I'm doing after work. #StarTrek50 pic.twitter.com/R4HWOSejpN

— Burg (@BurgerVonStadt) September 8, 2016