Nichols, who died on July 30 at the age of 89, is credited with helping to break down racial stereotypes and redefine Hollywood roles for black actors at the height of the US civil rights movement, as one of the first black women to they portrayed a powerful character on network television. . Now it has been added to the posthumous passenger manifest of a real rocket that will carry a collection of vials containing cremated ashes and DNA samples from dozens of space enthusiasts who departed on a final and eternal journey around the sun, according to organizers of the tribute. The start date has not yet been set. Other Star Trek cast members and executives who have had relics launched into space include James Doohan, who played series chief engineer Scotty, and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Also joining the release will be the remains of Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who played nurse Christine Chapel in the series, and famed sci-fi visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull, whose work appeared in films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The launch is being organized by Celestis Inc, a Texas-based company that has carved out a unique niche in the burgeoning commercial space sector by offering a measure of cosmic immortality to customers who can afford a dramatic mission, which contracts with private missile operations. Celestis has not disclosed the fees and other financial details of its service. The upcoming commemorative flight will take place on a Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is still under development by the Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA). Plans call for the 200-plus capsules carrying human remains and DNA for what Celestis calls Enterprise Flight to go inside the rocket’s upper stage that will fly into deep space, beyond the gravitational pull of Earth and the Moon. and will eventually enter a perpetual solar orbit, said Charles Chafer, co-founder and CEO of Celestis. “It’s a wonderful memorial to her, an everlasting one,” said Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson. In the 1970s, Nichols was hired by Nasa to help recruit marginalized groups and women into space, where she was influential in attracting talent such as the first US female astronaut, Sally Ride, the first black female astronaut, Mae Jemison, and the first black head of NASA, Charlie Bolden.
