I think it's a stretch to interpret it as petty when it probably just gave Trip a bit of focus and let his 8 year old nephew shout like "that's my uncle!" or something. Real life astronauts get asked these questions all the time and they're practically deified in our culture.
I don't hate this. Seems like Skydance has less conflict of interest (i.e. alternative franchises) than the Warner Brothers merger talks from December. Remains to be seen if this is a good thing from a Trek point of view but... Could be worse.
Here is me at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hilton. This was 1997 (spring or summer). I got to go on The Klingon Encounter (which may have been the only ride-type attraction at the time). The line to enter was lined with status of Borg (First Contact had just come out the previous November)....
Archer knew what he was doing
Trip: A poop question, sir? Can't I talk about the warp reactor or the transporter?...
Paramount and Skydance agree to terms of a merger deal ( www.cnbc.com )
Me at age six, at Star Trek: The Experience ( startrek.website )
Here is me at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hilton. This was 1997 (spring or summer). I got to go on The Klingon Encounter (which may have been the only ride-type attraction at the time). The line to enter was lined with status of Borg (First Contact had just come out the previous November)....