On July 30, the world lost its brightest light when “Star Trek” royalty Nickel Nichols, known around the galaxy as communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, died at the age of 89 in Silver City, New Mexico. has expired.
Although she has been a tireless champion of human spaceflight and recruitment of minority astronauts for decades, she never had the opportunity to travel in space while alive. But now the remains of his cremated Texas based company Celestis. going to heaven thanks to (opens in new tab),
Celestis provides “commemorative spaceflight services” for those who want to celebrate the life of a loved one with an off-Earth experience. And today (August 25) it was announced that Nichols had been chosen to be honored on Celestis’ first deep space mission: her cremated remains and a DNA sample will be on the company’s upcoming “enterprise flight.” (opens in new tab),
related: Nickel Nichols, a ‘Star Trek’ icon, trailblazer and space advocate, 89. died on
Nichols’ legacy includes being the first black woman in a leading role in a network TV series. She was a beacon of hope as an inspiration to all to break racial barriers and remove social stereotypes.
Between 1977 and 2015, she served as NASA’s chief and spokesperson for the search for viable female and minority candidates for the Space Shuttle program. Her extraordinary efforts increased NASA’s female astronaut candidates from 100 to 1,649 and minority recruits from 35 to more than 1,000.
“Nickel Nichols was a leading actress, lawyer, and dear friend of NASA. At a time when black women were rarely seen on screen, Nickel’s portrayal of Nyota Uhura on ‘Star Trek’ gave America a mirror which strengthened civil rights. Nickel’s advocacy moved beyond television to transform NASA,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement shortly after Nichols’ death. (opens in new tab),
Nelson said, “After Apollo 11, Nickel made it its mission to inspire women and people of color to join this agency, change the face of STEM, and explore the universe. Nickel’s mission is NASA’s.” mission.” “Today, as we work under Artemis to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon, NASA is guided by the legacy of Nichelle Nichols.”
“Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, feisty “Star Trek” engineer James “Scotty” with Nichols’ funeral, exploding atop United Launch Alliance’s appropriately-named Vulcan rocket later this year Will be with Dohan. and “2001: A Space Odyssey” by VFX magician Douglas Trumbull, among others.
“We are truly honored to add a great actress, activist and educator to the Enterprise Flight Manifest,” said Charles Chaffer, Celestis co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “Now our Enterprise flight will be carrying the man who fully embodied the vision of ‘Star Trek’ as a diverse, inclusive and exploratory universe.”
Enterprise Flight (opens in new tab) Will travel 93 million miles to 186 million miles (150 million to 300 million kilometers) in deep space beyond the Earth-Moon system. The memorial mission will launch more than 200 flight capsules containing the remains of cremated ashes, special messages and greetings and DNA samples from global customers on a timeless odyssey into interplanetary space.
This is not the main purpose of the flight; Vulcan’s main work includes sending Pittsburgh company Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander to the Moon.
But Vulcan’s Centaur upper stage will continue trucking into deep space, entering an orbit around the Sun and eventually becoming a remote outpost known as the Enterprise Station. Nichols will be joined by his son, Kyle Johnson, who will submit his DNA sample, allowing him to accompany his mother on this rare trip.
“I only regret that I cannot share this eternal tribute to my mother standing with me at the launch,” Johnson said in a statement. “I know she will be deeply honored for this unique experience and will enthusiastically thank all her fans via email for launching her thoughts, affection, memories, successes, dreams and aspirations inspired by NN with her on this flight. Would encourage you to join us! Awesome!”
Fans everywhere will be able to celebrate Nichols’ life by posting their name and tribute for free on Celestis’ website. (opens in new tab), All names and messages received will be digitized and launched into the universe.
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(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)