Nichelle Nichols & Derrick Pitts

University Trustee Derrick Pitts '78, chief astronomer and planetarium programs director at The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, recently was named to two posts at NASA: Solar System Ambassador and Astrobiology Ambassador. Related to the latter, he recently attended NASA's Astrobiology Institute bi-annual conference, where he met Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Lt. Uhura in the original "Star Trek" TV series.

Pitts is NASA's first Astrobiology Ambassador. The Solar System Ambassadors Program "is a public outreach program designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation," according to NASA.

NASA's Solar System Exploration website includes a profile of Pitts, who earned his St. Lawrence degree in geology.