“Star Trek” star and long-time diversity supporter Nichelle Nichols is deforming towards retirement, and NASA made a video to state thank you.Nichols, 88, made her last-ever public look at the L.A. Comic Con that concluded Sunday (Dec. 3), according to her site. Related: Documentary checks out Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols and NASAs 1970s astronaut searchNichelle Nichols, Uhura on “Star Trek,” stars in the new documentary “Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA,” which recounts her role in expanding variety at NASA. Janeway, depicted by Kate Mulgrew, was the first starring female captain of the franchise throughout “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001).
“Star Trek” star and veteran diversity supporter Nichelle Nichols is warping towards retirement, and NASA made a video to state thank you.Nichols, 88, made her last-ever public look at the L.A. Comic Con that concluded Sunday (Dec. 3), according to her website. Nicholas is best known for her function as communications officer Uhura in “The Original Series” (1966-69) at a time when couple of other Black women in tv held such starring roles.In current years, media reports suggest she might have dementia and be captured in a conservatorship battle. Her influence was tremendous on the space neighborhood, NASA said. Related: Documentary explores Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols and NASAs 1970s astronaut searchNichelle Nichols, Uhura on “Star Trek,” stars in the new documentary “Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA,” which states her function in broadening variety at NASA. (Image credit: Paramount+) Long after that “Star Trek” program concluded, Nichols rotated to advocating for a more varied astronaut corps that included ladies and other races, culminating in a NASA-funded campaign to recruit the very first ladies and Black astronauts in the 1970s.” I initially found out about Star Trek through my mommy,” Tracy Drain, NASA flight systems engineer, said in the NASA video, posted on YouTube.” She and her three sis utilized to hurry house to enjoy the original Star Trek because of Nichelle Nichols. They actually delighted in seeing somebody who looked like themselves portraying a character on television like that,” included Drain, who is Black.” Star Trek” actress Nichelle Nichols was employed by NASA to recruit brand-new astronauts into the late 1980s. (Image credit: NASA) (Image credit: NASA.) NASAs first female launch director, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, stated that all ladies (as she is white) appreciated seeing Nichols in her technical role as Uhura.” What I like about Nichelle Nichols is how she embraced the function,” Blackwell-Thompson said in the video, “and how she depicted us and gave us that roadmap for the future generation of women to follow. We absolutely need more characters like Uhura today.” The legacy of “Star Trek” is also stronger than ever, as the franchise has several active ongoing series: “Discovery,” “Picard,” “Lower Decks” and the newest hire, the Captain Janeway-inspired “Prodigy” that introduced earlier this fall. Janeway, portrayed by Kate Mulgrew, was the first starring female captain of the franchise throughout “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001). Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..