Women have always played a pivotal role in space exploration, from influencing science fiction to making groundbreaking contributions at NASA. Their impact is undeniable, and we celebrate their achievements.
How Lucille Ball Saved Star Trek and Inspired Generations
Did you know that Star Trek almost never made it to television? After a failed pilot, Lucille Ball personally financed a second attempt, ensuring the show’s success. Without her vision, Star Trek—a show that broke barriers in diversity and representation—might never have become the cultural phenomenon it is today.
Star Trek launched with a strong cast and showcased a crew of multi-racial actors in key roles aboard the USS Enterprise. It was the first time that a mainstream television show depicted people of color in critical positions that were not overshadowed by stereotypes of the era.
Despite the success of Star Trek in its first season, Nichelle Nichols, who played Nyota Uhura, considered leaving the show in favor of an offer to perform on Broadway. However, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek®, was disappointed when she submitted her notice to leave on a Friday afternoon. Rather than accept her resignation, he encouraged her to think about staying on with the show over the weekend. They agreed to talk about it the following Monday.
The following evening, Ms. Nichols attended an NAACP event and was introduced to Martin Luther King Jr. It was at that event that the conversation she had with Dr. King convinced her to stay on with the show when he shared that Star Trek® was the only show he and his wife allowed his young daughters to stay up past their bedtime to watch.
The reason? Because of her.
Because Ms. Nichol’s character, Lt. Uhura, the communications officer, was an intelligent, articulate, black woman that played a critical role in the Star Trek® missions. Her character was the first black female role that didn’t fall into the trope of black stereotypes. Dr. King shared that she was an example to his daughters and an example to the entire country of the dignity and intelligence of black women, and he begged her not to leave.
History shows that of course, Ms. Nichols did NOT leave Star Trek® for Broadway. Instead, she enjoyed a healthy career playing Lt. Uhuru from 1966-1982 in both the original television series and several Star Trek® movies. She was a great example to little girls everywhere that women could play a critical role in space exploration.
Ms. Nichols’ contributions extended beyond the fantasy of Star Trek® and into the reality of NASA when she was recruited to help promote the program and recruit astronauts. Oscar Wilde said, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life,” and the role she played on TV and film paved the way for her contributions in growing NASA.
Women at NASA: From Katherine Johnson to Sally Ride
Women have been at the heart of NASA’s success for over a century. Katherine Johnson, a pioneering NASA mathematician, calculated orbital trajectories for missions, including John Glenn’s historic flight. He famously requested that Johnson verify the computer’s calculations before his launch, trusting her expertise above all.
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space, breaking decades of barriers. Since then, NASA has seen a steady increase in female astronauts, engineers, and scientists, paving the way for future generations.
The Ongoing Impact of Women in Space
From Pearl Young, the first woman hired at NASA’s precursor (NACA) in 1922, to today’s diverse astronaut teams, women continue to push boundaries in space exploration. As of 2017, nearly 37% of new NASA hires were women, and half of the latest astronaut class consisted of female candidates.
Women have not only shaped NASA but also inspired future scientists, engineers, and dreamers worldwide.
