A Class M planet, capable of supporting human life, dead center in a quasarlike system which must be putting out an enormous amount of radiation? Eh, it’s the 60s not much was known about quasars in those days.
What’s much more interesting is the conflict. Spock’s logical stoicism vs the shuttle crews' emotionalism and borderline racism on the surface of the planet, is mirrored by a conflict between Captain Kirk who wants to rescue his friends and crew vs a hardassed bureaucrat who wants to leave them behind. It’s a complete 180% mirroring too as the shuttle crews' emotion drives them to rebel against Spock while Kirk’s emotion drives him to continue the rescue mission.
#StarTrek #TOS #TheGalileoSeven