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In a world going through a rough time, it's nice to be able to tell you some lovely, if bittersweet news. The world lost Nichelle Nichols on July 30, 2022. Nichols, of course, played the role of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on "Star Trek," breaking new ground for Black women in television. Lt. Uhura shared the first interracial kiss on a network TV series with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). When she wanted to leave the role to pursue another job, none other than Martin Luther King Jr. -- whose own family watched the show -- convinced her not to because of how powerful it was to see a Black woman on TV in a high ranking position during the height of the civil rights movement. 

Nichols' role inspired so many people, from Whoopi Goldberg to NASA astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space. (Both went on to appear in "Star Trek" shows.

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Hollywood is mourning the death of Nichelle Nichols, who made history for her portrayal of communications officer Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek.

Nichols died Saturday of natural causes at age 89, her son, Kyle Johnson, posted on Facebook.

“Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration,” he wrote Sunday. “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

Among those paying tribute to Nichols was President Joe Biden, who praised her as a “trailblazer of stage and screen who redefined what is possible for Black Americans and women.” His statement continued about her Star Trek role, “With a defining dignity and authority, she helped tell a central story that reimagined scientific pursuits and discoveries. And she continued this legacy...

Update, 11:45 am: Woman In Motion, a feature documentary honoring Star Trek alum Nichelle Nichols, has been uploaded to the International Space Station and has been made available to NASA employees to mark Women’s Equality Day. The film, from Stars North films, Shout! Studios and Concourse Media, is available for astronauts aboard the International Space Station to watch at any time, and to NASA employees and contractors to view until September 6.

Directed by Todd Thompson, the film chronicles how Nichols transformed her sci-fi television stardom into a real-life science career when she embarked on a campaign to bring diversity to NASA in 1977.

Woman in Motion is available on demand and digital and is streaming on Paramount+.

Previous, August 26: Today is Women’s Equality Day in the U.S., celebrated each year on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits...

Woman In Motion, now available on Apple+, is a tribute to Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek‘s enormous influence on NASA.

“During a roughly four-month period in early 1977, Nichelle Nichols worked to recruit astronauts for NASA’s then-new Space Shuttle program. Her goal was simple and self-fashioned: Get as many women and non-whites to apply as possible.”

Read more at Inverse.

Attack the Block, starring John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, will turn ten later this year. Check out some fun facts about this critically acclaimed sci-fi comedy.

“When Attack the Block arrived in theaters in 2011, it recouped just half of its $11 million budget. The critics, however, were positive in their reviews, and the film became a cult classic. Its unique mix of science fiction, comedy, and horror struck all the right notes and launched some of its young stars onto bigger things…”

Read more at Mental Floss.

Ahead of Ahsoka Tano’s live action series,...