Nichelle Nichols and NASA.

In 1977, NASA struggled to recruit scientists, engineers and astronauts for their space shuttle programme. That’s when Nichelle Nichols asked the question: “Where are my people?” and embarked on a campaign to recruit black, Latino and Asian men and women to fly in space.

Todd Thompson’s documentary about Nichelle Nichols’ campaign to right a wrong in NASA’s diversity is a fascinating 105 minutes, blending archive and newer footage with the actor, as well as interviews with Star Trek alumni (Walter Koenig, George Takei) and other key people in NASA, entertainment and civil rights.

Those who have read Nichols’ autobiography Beyond Uhura might think they already know this story, and to be fair, much of the first 45 minutes is devoted to well-known anecdotes and stories – dancing for Duke Ellington, Martin Luther King telling her she can’t leave the show, the kiss in Plato’s Stepchildren, the removal of her lines from scripts – but seeing them retold directly by the lady herself adds a new dimension. Also, you need this context before diving in to the movie’s heart.

It was at a 1975 Star Trek convention where NASA sent a representative (Jesco von Puttkamer) to give a presentation on their achievements to date and Nichols felt disenfranchised by not seeing herself in the present space programme, either as a black person or as a woman. This led to her being appointed to the board of directors of the National Space Institute, which created a spark from NASA.

Through her Women in Motion business, Nichelle became the face of the space shuttle recruitment drive, travelling the States (including hostile Southern states) to encourage qualified people from minority groups to apply for the shuttle programme. She would subsequently be awarded NASA’s Public Service Award in recognition of her achievements, but there’s also the heartbreaking moment where she shares her grief at losing three of her recruits on the Challenger shuttle disaster.

Verdict: Quite simply, if you have any interest in Star Trek and/or the American space programme, this is a must-watch. You also owe it Ms Nichols to know the full story of what she achieved beyond Uhura. 9/10

Nick Joy