The legacy of Nichelle Nichols, beloved Star Trek star and tireless space advocate, continues to break barriers, even in death.
In 2026, the Nichelle Nichols Foundation will launch the Nichelle Nichols Space Camp, a weekend experience designed to inspire and empower teenage girls to explore careers in space and science.
Hosted at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the camp will serve girls aged 14 to 18. According to organizers, participants will take on real-world space mission simulations and challenges that develop critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills—hallmarks of both NASA training and 21st-century STEM careers.
“Students will work as a team and confront mission scenarios that require dynamic problem solving and critical thinking,” the camp’s website states.
Honoring a Cultural and Scientific Icon
Nichols, who passed away in July 2022 at the age of 89, made history as Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series—a groundbreaking role that made her one of the first Black women to star in a primetime television show.
But her influence extended far beyond the screen.
After the series ended, Nichols collaborated with NASA to help recruit women and people of color into the astronaut corps, paving the way for figures like Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
Her legacy has continued posthumously, from having her ashes sent into space to now inspiring a new generation of explorers through education.
Mentors and Advocates Carry the Torch
Among the camp’s mentors will be Bonnie Gordon, voice actor on Star Trek: Prodigy, who says joining the camp was a “no-brainer.”
“Not only am I a huge fan of space exploration and science, I’m just a big fan of mentoring young girls,” Gordon told PEOPLE. “Pushing these young women to be whatever they want to be… is just a dream come true.”
Gordon, who met Nichols at several Star Trek conventions, recalls the joy Nichols felt meeting young women she inspired.
“She was a big believer in the philosophy of infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” Gordon said, referencing the Vulcan creed at the heart of Star Trek’s inclusive vision.
Also voicing support for the initiative is Nichols’ former co-star Walter Koenig, 88, who called it a “positive project” and remembered Nichols as warm-hearted and trailblazing.
A Legacy That Looks to the Future
The Nichelle Nichols Space Camp reflects her lifelong mission: to boldly go where few women have gone before—and bring others along for the journey. The camp is expected to grow beyond 2026, creating broader opportunities for young women to see themselves as leaders in science and space exploration.
“This is just the beginning,” said Gordon. “And if it continues to grow, that just means it’s going to give even more opportunities to young women in the future.”
Registration for the Nichelle Nichols Space Camp is now open via the Nichelle Nichols Foundation website.
