Honoring Mae Jemison, America’s First Black Female Astronaut
Meet Mae Jemison, America’s first black female astronaut. Jemison’s passion for science emerged at an early age, and spans well beyond the field of astronomy. She was born in 1956 in Alabama, but was raised in Chicago, IL, where, as a small child, she was first introduced to several scientific areas of study, including anthropology, astronomy and archaeology. She jumped into her studies headfirst and emerged with an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1977 and a medical degree from Cornell University in 1981.
Prior to making her debut in space as a mission specialist aboard the Endeavour in 1992, Jemison focused on international medicine, working as a general practitioner and a medical officer in the Peace Corps. Her research projects led to collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health, among others.
Jemison was accepted into the NASA program in 1987, a feat that had never before been accomplished by a black female. Following her stint at NASA, Jemison has continued to dedicate herself to science and technology through teaching, creating science-centered programs for high-schoolers and much more. She also heads up the 100-Year Starship program, which aims to enable human travel outside the solar system over the next century. Mae Jemison not only breaks barriers, but also continues to test them.
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