NEW YORK (REUTERS) - The history of Star Trek meets real world science at the Star Trek: Mission convention in New York.

The three-day event celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the popular franchise that has fans young and old flocking to the Jacob Javits centre for a chance to mingle with fellow fans and meet their favourite Star Trek actors.

"Star Trek is all about the community and the fans are a real important part of that. I'm a fan and if I wasn't on this side of the table I would probably be on that side," said actor LeVar Burton who played Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

The son of the late Leonard Nimoy, Adam, will share details about his new documentary For The Love Of Spock during panel sessions during the event.

"I think he would be very happy with the end product that we came up with, we worked very hard, said Nimoy. Leonard died in February 2015.

The father and son began working on the film in November 2014 as a way to mark the upcoming milestone of the show and a chance to further bond a once strained relationship.

Some of the exhibition highlights include a replica set where fans can take pictures in the captain's chair, chief scientists from NASA sharing details about actual space exploration and the selling of commemorative stamps by the US postal service.

Star Trek: Mission will run from Sept 2-4.