In the days after her passing, many Star Trek icons paid tribute to Nichelle Nichols, including William Shatner and George Takei, who co-starred with her in Star Trek: The Original Series as James Kirk and Hikaru Sulu, respectively.
Nichols starred as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series and the first six Star Trek movies, and along with the character traveling through space as a member of the USS Enterprise, Nichols herself worked with NASA to promote the agency’s programs and help recruit more women and minority astronauts.
Nichelle Nichols is the latest high-profile individual connected to the Star Trek franchise whose ashes have been sent into space.
On July 30, 2022, Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols passed away at the age of 89.