Los Angeles

Actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed communications officer Uhura on the original 'Star Trek' series passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday.

Her death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.

Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history on 'Star Trek'.

That moment, with her co-star William Shatner, was a courageous move on her part considering the atmosphere in America at the time.

In the episode 'Plato's Stepchildren', which aired in 1968, Uhura and Captain Kirk did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so involuntarily by aliens with the ability to control the movements of humans.

It was a landmark moment.

The Uhura-Kirk kiss was likely the first televised white/African American lip-to-lip kiss.

Nichols played Lt. Uhura on the original series, voiced her on 'Star Trek: The Animated Series' and played Uhura in the first six 'Star Trek' films. Uhura was promoted to lieutenant commander in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and to full commander in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan."

NASA later employed Nichols in an effort to encourage women and African Americans to become astronauts.

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Nichols remained a supporter of the space programme for decades.