The late Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols will join some fellow Trekkies “where no one has gone before.” Nichols, who died in July at age 89, will have her ashes sent to space.
Nichols was best known as Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series. Playing one of the first Black women in a lead role on American television, Nichols was a trailblazer who inspired generations — including NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space. After Star Trek ended, Nichols herself volunteered with NASA on the Astronaut Corps project, to encourage the hiring of marginalized employees.
Nichols will be joined by other departed Star Trek actors and executives: Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry; his wife and actor Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who played several roles in different Trek series and films; actor James Doohan, who played Scotty; and visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull, who worked on Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Their remains will be sent to space on the inaugural Celestis Voyager Memorial Spaceflight by the private company Celestis, Inc., which specializes in memorial spaceflights. The date of the voyage hasn’t yet been released, but fans of Nichols can write a tribute message to the actor who went to the final frontier.
