The space burial company Celestis will launch a 'Star Trek' mission carrying 150 capsules with cremated human remains and DNA on the first flight of the Vulcan Centaur rocket by United Launch Alliance. 'Today, as we work to send the first woman and first person of color to the moon under Artemis, NASA is guided by the legacy of Nichelle Nichols.'īlasting off later this year atop United Launch Alliance's appropriately named Vulcan rocket, Nichols' cremated remains will be accompanied by those of 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, feisty 'Star Trek' engineer James 'Scotty' Doohan, and '2001: A Space Odyssey' VFX wizard Douglas Trumbull, among others. Nichelle's mission is NASA's mission,' Nelson added. 'After Apollo 11, Nichelle made it her mission to inspire women and people of color to join this agency, change the face of STEM and explore the cosmos. Nichelle’s advocacy transcended television and transformed NASA,' NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement shortly Nichols' death (opens in new tab).

At a time when black women were seldom seen on screen, Nichelle's portrayal as Nyota Uhura on 'Star Trek' held a mirror up to America that strengthened civil rights.

'Nichelle Nichols was a trailblazing actress, advocate, and dear friend to NASA. Her extraordinary efforts boosted NASA's female astronaut candidates from 100 to 1,649 and the number of minority recruits from 35 to over 1,000. Between 19, she served as NASA's recruiter in chief and spokesperson to discover viable female and minority candidates for the space shuttle program.

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