Thread: I didn not know Lt. Uhura died on July 29...

Remains of Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols To Launch into Space

Ashes of actress who played Lt. Uhura will join those of other cast members.

Actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as Lt. Uhura from the Star Trek franchise, is bound for the stars.

Houston, Texas-based Celestis Memorial Spaceflights announced Thursday it will be sending a "symbolic portion" of the actress's cremated remains to space aboard a rocket, along with those of other Star Trek cast members.

Nichols, remembered by millions for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura, the communications officer aboard starship USS Enterprise, died this past July 30, at age 89. She is survived by her son, Kyle Johnson.

The rocket carrying Nichols' ashes will also contain DNA from Kyle, allowing mother and son to symbolically "fly together on a forever mission known as Enterprise Flight," Celestis Memorial Spaceflights spokesperson Pazia Schonfeld told FLYING.

A Rocket Named Vulcan

The Enterprise Flight will be operated in conjunction with United Launch Alliance, according to Celestis. The rocket, dubbed Vulcan, is expected to travel between 150 million to 300 million kilometers into deep space.

The launch will include more than 200 flight capsules containing cremated remains, messages of greetings, and DNA samples from clients worldwide on an endless journey in interplanetary space, Celestis said in a release. First, Vulcan will be tasked with putting Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander on a trajectory for its rendezvous with the moon. Next, the "Centaur rocket's upper stage will continue into deep space, entering an orbit around the sun, becoming humanity's furthermost reaching outpost, which will then be renamed the Enterprise Station," the company news release said.

"The capsules that carry the cremated remains are made from aircraft-grade aluminum. They are round and range from 1/4 inch to 1 inch," Colby Youngblood, president of Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, told FLYING on Friday. "The clients who wish to send cremains are sent a flight kit that allows them to send a few grams of the ashes. For DNA submissions we work with a company out of Canada that takes a cheek swab that turns it into powder."

According to a Celestis website, memorial spaceflight experiences run from $2,495 for Earth Rise, which consists of a launch to space and return to Earth, to $12,500, for either launch to deep space or to the moon.

Star Trek Cast Flies Free

However, Youngblood, a science fiction fan, noted, "If you are a member of the original 'Star Trek' cast, the flight is gratis," saying the Enterprise Memorial Flight is the result of a promise Charles M. Chafer, co-founder and CEO of Celestis made to the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry–the late Majel Roddenberry– in 1997 during the company's inaugural flight.

"Gene Roddenberry's cremains were on board, and Majel was there during the launch. She turned to Charlie and says, 'Promise me that when it is my time you will fly me with Gene into deep space.' Charlie promised he would." Youngblood said.

Majel Roddenberry appeared in several roles in the Star Trek franchise, first as the character No. 1—the first officer aboard the Enterprise in the pilot episode—then later as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original series, followed by Lxwana Troi in Star Trek the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. She also provided the voice for the computer aboard the starships...

Much more story at the link:

Remains of Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols To Launch into Space - FLYING Magazine

An excerpt from a 2011 interview with Nichelle Nichols, in which Nichols describes a conversation she had with MLK after telling Gene Roddenberry that she would quit Star Trek after the first season. Dr. King told her that her show was the only one he and Coretta permitted their children to watch, and he convinced her to stay.

Ms. NICHOLS: I went in to tell Gene Roddenberry that I was leaving after the first season, and he was very upset about it. And he said, take the weekend and think about what I am trying to achieve here in this show. You're an integral part and very important to it. And so I said, yes, I would. And that - on Saturday night, I went to an NAACP fundraiser, I believe it was, in Beverly Hills. And one of the promoters came over to me and said, Ms. Nichols, there's someone who would like to meet you. He says he is your greatest fan.

And I'm thinking a Trekker, you know. And I turn, and before I could get up, I looked across the way and there was the face of Dr. Martin Luther King smiling at me and walking toward me. And he started laughing. By the time he reached me, he said, yes, Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan. I am that Trekkie.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Ms. NICHOLS: And I was speechless. He complimented me on the manner in which I'd created the character. I thanked him, and I think I said something like, Dr. King, I wish I could be out there marching with you. He said, no, no, no. No, you don't understand. We don't need you on the - to march. You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for. So, I said to him, thank you so much. And I'm going to miss my co-stars.

And his face got very, very serious. And he said, what are you talking about? And I said, well, I told Gene just yesterday that I'm going to leave the show after the first year because I've been offered - and he stopped me and said: You cannot do that. And I was stunned. He said, don't you understand what this man has achieved? For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen. He says, do you understand that this is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch. I was speechless.

Star Trek's Uhura Reflects On MLK Encounter : NPR