Key Takeaways:
- Mae Jemison demonstrated an early passion for science, earning a B.S. in chemical engineering and a B.A. in African American studies from Stanford, an M.D. from Cornell Medical College, and serving as a medical officer in the Peace Corps.
- Inspired by the first American woman in space, Jemison was admitted to NASA’s training program on June 4, 1987, becoming the first Black woman to achieve this distinction.
- On September 12, 1992, she made history as the first woman of color in space, serving as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle *Endeavor* and conducting medical experiments on motion sickness and bone density.
- Following her space mission, Jemison has concentrated on education and technology access, notably teaching at Dartmouth and establishing a science camp for children.
Born Oct. 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, and raised in Chicago, Mae Jemison showed a passion and talent for science from early in her childhood. After graduating high school by the age of 16, Jemison attended Stanford University and earned a B.S. in chemical engineering and a B.A. in African American studies. She went on to Cornell Medical College, and after completing her M.D. in 1981, worked for several years as a medical officer in the Peace Corps.
Watching Sally Ride become the first American woman in space inspired Jemison to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut, and on June 4, 1987, she became the first Black woman admitted into NASA’s training program. On Sept. 12, 1992, she launched as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavor, becoming the first woman of color in space. During her eight-day flight, she conducted experiments that capitalized on her background as a medical doctor, including research on motion sickness and on bone density in space. Since her return to Earth, Jemison has focused on education and technology access and integration, including teaching at Dartmouth and founding a science camp for children – and even made a guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
