Space Technology Programs Brought to Schools by the Traveling Space Museum

On March 2nd, 2010, actress Nichelle Nichols paid a visit to an after school program at San Fernando High located at 11133 O'Melveny Ave, San Fernando, CA. and spoke to students about the cultural effects of the ground breaking television series, "Star Trek." Nichelle Nichols’ character on Star Trek, ‘Lieutenant Uhura,’ created back in 1966, was the first to have a Blue Tooth device attached to her ear while working with PDA’s and iPads – 40 years before they were invented.

An hour and a half after regular school had ended, some students at SFHS were still in class getting a first hand account as to how many of today’s inventions came about. And while 'smart phones' and talking computers were created by different people at different companies, there was a common denominator -- they were all big fans of Star Trek! The creator of Motorola's ‘Flip Phone’ even made a point of meeting his inspiration --Nichelle Nichols!

Nichelle Nichols’ visit to SFHS was in association with the After School Space Academy created by Ivor Dawson, president of the Traveling Space Museum Inc. The 18-day general science enrichment program, which began on Feb. 23rd, will run until Apr. 15th on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays is sponsored by LA Mission College.

Traveling Space Museum brings full-scale and interactive simulations to schools and uses them as teaching tools. The simulators include: the ‘Odyssey SpaceLab’ --a 25-foot-long space station mockup, a space toilet simulation and the BD-5 Micro-Jet --a real jet aircraft and more --all displayed on campus. The TSM After School Space Academy features other special guest lecturers but Nichelle Nichols is definitely the star attraction.

Ms. Nichols is no stranger to real space science. While under contract to NASA, Ms. Nichols recruited the first women and minority astronauts. As an actress, she has been seen most recently on the TV series “Heroes." Ms. Nichols became the first African-American to place her hand prints in front of the famed Chinese Theatre and was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Today, Nichelle Nichols is one of the greatest inspirations to women and children of minorities.. She has written two novels, Saturn' Child and Saturna' Quest and an autobiography, “Beyond Uhura.”

This reporter asked Nichelle Nichols how she and Traveling Space Museum teamed up. Ms. Nichols answered that they've known each other for many years and that she is a big supporter of the space technology programs brought to schools by the Traveling Space Museum.

Ms. Nichols is determined to encourage those who dream and to educate students everywhere about technology of the past, present and even the future!

It was good to hear a woman motivating other minority woman to follow her path and to dream.