Ashes of ‘Star Trek’ actress Nichelle Nichols will be sent into space

Nichelle Nichols’ earthly remains will be headed to the final frontier.

Nichols, who died July at the age of 89, will join several of her “Star Trek” colleagues in deep space. The ashes of the actress, who portrayed Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, will be rocketed into the heavens when Celestial Memorial Spaceflights lifts off later this year, People reported.

“We are absolutely honored to announce that the late Nichelle Nichols will be joining the ‘crew’ aboard the upcoming Celestis Enterprise Flight, headed to deep space later this year alongside several of her fellow Star Trek icons,” the company wrote in an Instagram post.

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It will be Celestis’ inaugural venture into deep space, Space.com reported. Nichols’ cremated remains and a DNA sample will be aboard the spacecraft.

Nichols joins “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry; his wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who played several roles in the series; and James “Scotty” Doohan.

Celestial Memorial Spaceflights is also allowing fans to send tribute messages to Nichols that will be launched into space with her, People reported.

‘Star Trek’ star Nichelle Nichols dead at 89

Nichols was cast as Uhura by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry after she guest-starred as the fiancee of a Black U.S. Marine who is a victim of racism in the 1964 episode “The Lieutenant,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. That show was also created by Roddenberry.

As Uhura, Nichols sat on the bridge of the starship Enterprise in a red mini-dress. She was the ship’s fourth in command, according to the Post.

Nichols reprised her role as Uhura in all six of the “Star Trek” films from 1979 through 1991, on animated series and several video games, according to the entertainment news website. She also appeared on a 2002 episode of “Futurama.”

NASA employed Nichols to encourage women and Blacks to become astronauts, Variety reported.

Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history on “Star Trek.” That moment was shared with her co-star William Shatner, Variety reported.

The episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren,” which aired in 1968, was written to give all involved an out, the entertainment outlet reported. Uhura and Capt. James Kirk (William Shatner) did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so involuntarily by aliens with the ability to control the movements of humans.

In 1968, she recorded an album, “Down to Earth,” according to Variety.

Nichols also appeared as the grandmother of an avenging angel in the NBC television series “Heroes,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Some of her recent film roles came in “Snow Dogs” (2002), “Are We There Yet?” (2005) and “This Bitter Earth” (2012).

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