Nichelle Nichols Space Camp for Teen Girls to Open in 2026, Honoring Late 'Star Trek' Icon's Legacy (Exclusive)
The camp, a product of the actress's namesake foundation, aims to bring science and technology education to a new generation
Other stars from the Star Trek universe are on board with the project, singing its praises in an exclusive chat with PEOPLEStar Trek's Nichelle Nichols broke barriers in her time on Earth, and three years after her death, she's continuing to open doors for women and girls.
In January, the Nichelle Nichols Foundation will launch the Nichelle Nichols Space Camp, a weekend-long experience for female teens 14 to 18 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. According to the website, "Students will work as a team and confront mission scenarios that require dynamic problem solving and critical thinking — 21st century learning skills required in the workplace."
For Nichols' former Star Trek costar, William Koenig, it's the perfect fit.
"It's a positive project to be involved in," the 88-year-old tells PEOPLE exclusively. "Creating a career which is so exciting and so full of promise is great."
Star Trek: Prodigy's Bonnie Gordon, 39, will serve as a mentor at the camp, a job she calls a "no-brainer" to take.
"Not only am I a huge fan of space exploration and science, I'm just a big fan of mentoring young girls and children in science," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel like there's so much here on Earth that we have yet to explore and so much that NASA and space programs have accomplished in space, advancing technologies. There's just so much we can learn where everything's connected."
Plus, she adds, "Pushing these young women to be whatever they want to be, pushing the boundaries of not just space, but science and their own personal discoveries, is just a dream come true for me."
Gordon crossed paths with Nichols in their shared time in the Star Trek universe at fan conventions and events.
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"I'm very lucky to have met her," she shares. "You could see the joy she felt when meeting fans, especially the women she'd inspired."
Koenig feels the same.
"She was extremely warm-hearted," he says. "We had a lot of laughs together. She was the first person who came over to me from the series and introduced herself; I remember that and I thought it was very sweet. We got along quite well over the years."
Nichols — who died in July of 2022 at 89 years old — enjoyed decades in the spotlight thanks to her screen work, her music career and her activism to help more women succeed in the field of astronomy.
Her breakout role came when Gene Roddenberry cast the actress as Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series. When the show first aired in 1966, Nichols was one of the first Black women to play a major role on primetime television.
Following the end of the science-fiction series, Nichols worked to recruit diverse astronauts to NASA, including women and people of color. Among those who were recruited as a result of the program was Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut.
Not long after her death, her ashes were sent into space via a Celestial Memorial Spaceflight.
"I don't think people realize how groundbreaking she was, not just in entertainment, but in science, because so many little girls who watched Star Trek growing up saw that they could have a future in science," Gordon says. "There's so much that she's left behind. She was a big believer in the philosophy of infinite diversity and infinite combinations, which is basically the Vulcan philosophy."
While she's excited for the actual content of camp — simulations, moon walks and more — Gordon is thrilled "to be part of something that moves life forward," she says.
"There's so much happening right now where people are trying to cut and constrain when it comes to science, where people who are different or have different values or views are being constrained," she says. "I feel like now is the time to break those boxes open and work together. We can find common ground on so many different levels if we communicate with others and not let hate or anger blind us."
The Nichelle Nichols Foundation does just that, she adds. And she hopes to see the camp grow and thrive for years to come.
"I know the goal is to make this program bigger and better," she adds. "This is just the beginning. 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.
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