Star Trek: The Original Series first aired in the U.S. on Friday, September 8, 1966, on NBC. The series tells the stories of the crew of the starship USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner, and their five-year mission to "boldly go where no man has gone before." The show was canceled after just 3 seasons, with the final episode airing on June 3, 1969. Following reruns, it became a cultural phenomenon. Initially known simply as Star Trek, it was later referred to as Star Trek: The Original Series or Classic Trek.