Outer space, endless expanses - that's what actress Nichelle Nichols made famous. She would never let go of her role as Lieutenant Uhura on the Enterprise until her death a few weeks ago. Now the "Star Trek" icon is to be buried appropriately.
Lieutenant Uhura finds her final resting place in space: parts of the ashes of "Star Trek" legend Nichelle Nichols are to be flown into space in a rocket later this year. The actress died on July 30 at the age of 89.
According to a press release from Celestis Inc., the company that launches the rocket, Nichols will not embark on her final journey alone, but with other members of the "Star Trek" family. The remains of "Star Trek" inventor Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991), his wife Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (1932-2008) and actor James Doohan (1920-2005) are said to be on board, who was once the chief engineer Scotty acted in the original "Starship Enterprise" series.
"We are truly honored to add the legendary actress, activist and teacher to Enterprise Flight's manifesto," said Charles M. Chafer, co-founder of Celestis Inc., in a press release. "Now our Enterprise flight will have on board the person who most fully embodied the vision of 'Star Trek' as a diverse, inclusive and exploratory universe."
When exactly the rocket will take off is not yet known. According to the space burial company's website, it will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket is expected to fly between 150 and 300 million kilometers into space and beyond the Earth-Moon system.
Nichelle Nichols appeared in 69 of the 79 episodes of the science fiction series "Starship Enterprise" between 1966 and 1969. She was considered a pioneer and role model for black women in the film and television business. However, she was never able to build on the success she experienced with "Star Trek".
