NASA recalls the impact that NIchelle Nichols had on the space agency and exploration after she retired from public life. Nicholls passed away on July 30, 2022.
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:09 I first learned about "Star Trek" through my mom.
00:12 She and her three sisters used to rush home
00:15 to watch the original "Star Trek"
00:16 because of Nichelle Nichols.
00:18 They really enjoyed seeing someone
00:19 who looked like themselves portraying
00:21 a character on TV like that.
00:24 I loved everything about science fiction shows,
00:27 the whole idea of exploring space.
00:29 So that's why I decided to become an engineer.
00:31 And it was my aspiration to ultimately work for NASA.
00:34 Hi, I'm Nichelle Nichols.
00:37 But I still feel a little bit like [INAUDIBLE]
00:40 In 1977, NASA hired Nichelle Nichols
00:44 to help recruit space shuttle astronauts.
00:47 She actually gave a speech that year for the National Space
00:50 Institute on the humanizing of space.
00:53 She asked, where are my people, who she was referring
00:56 to, women and minorities.
00:59 NASA, of course, heard about the speech
01:01 and invited her to NASA headquarters.
01:03 Jim Fletcher was then the NASA administrator.
01:05 And he asked Nichelle Nichols if she
01:08 would be interested in serving as a spokesperson
01:10 or an ambassador for NASA and help
01:12 them recruit the first class of space shuttle astronauts.
01:17 This is your NASA, a space agency
01:20 and boss on a mission to improve the quality of life
01:23 on planet Earth right now.
01:26 Not only did she portray a technical character
01:30 in a time period where you didn't
01:31 see a lot of women or people of color
01:34 in technical roles on television.
01:36 She symbolized to so many what was possible.
01:41 What I love about Nichelle Nichols
01:43 is how she embraced that role and how she portrayed us
01:48 and gave us that roadmap for the future generation of women
01:54 to follow.
01:55 We definitely need more characters like Uhura today.
01:58 There's still just something special
02:00 about seeing people who look like yourself portraying
02:04 the kinds of things that you might one day
02:05 be able to do in the world.
02:07 Especially for kids, you just embed in their minds,
02:11 even in an unconscious way, this idea
02:13 that they really do have a whole world of options out there.
02:18 Because if they're told something,
02:19 but they don't see it, it doesn't really
02:21 sink in as being real.
02:23 Nichelle, I want to personally thank you
02:27 for inspiring me to be part of the space exploration career.
02:33 This is Mike Hopkins with Crew One.
02:36 And we just wanted to say how much you inspired us
02:39 as we were growing up.
02:40 You taught us how to dream.
02:42 Thanks for your wonderful work.
02:44 Seeing your continued drive and enthusiasm
02:46 to inspire young kids today, that still is inspiring me.
02:50 Your legacy led to our legacy here.
02:52 And we appreciate it.
02:53 Thank you for making a difference for all of us.
02:57 Live long and prosper.
02:59 The shuttle will be taking scientists and engineers,
03:03 men and women of all races, into space,
03:06 just like the astronaut crew and the Starship Enterprise.
03:11 So that is why I'm speaking to the whole family of humankind,
03:16 minorities and women alike.
03:19 This is your NASA.