<P> NBC paid to make a pilot, "The Cage", starring Jeffrey Hunter as Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike . NBC rejected The Cage, but the executives were still impressed with the concept, and made the unusual decision to commission a second pilot: "Where No Man Has Gone Before". </P> <P> The first regular episode ("The Man Trap") of Star Trek: The Original Series aired on Thursday, September 8, 1966 in the US . </P> <P> While the show initially enjoyed high ratings, the average rating of the show at the end of its first season dropped to 52nd out of 94 programs . Unhappy with the show's ratings, NBC threatened to cancel the show during its second season . The show's fan base, led by Bjo Trimble, conducted an unprecedented letter - writing campaign, petitioning the network to keep the show on the air . NBC renewed the show, but moved it from primetime to the "Friday night death slot", and substantially reduced its budget . In protest Roddenberry resigned as producer and reduced his direct involvement in Star Trek, which led to Fred Freiberger becoming producer for the show's third and final season . Despite another letter - writing campaign, NBC cancelled the series after three seasons and 79 episodes . </P> <P> After the original series was cancelled, Paramount Studios, which had bought the series from Desilu, licensed the broadcast syndication rights to help recoup the production losses . Reruns began in the fall of 1969 and by the late 1970s the series aired in over 150 domestic and 60 international markets . This helped Star Trek develop a cult following greater than its popularity during its original run . </P>

How many episodes of star trek in total