Mae Jemison
First African-American woman to travel into space.
Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, and is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She made history in 1992 as the first African-American woman in space, serving as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Selected for the astronaut corps in 1987, she flew on the STS-47 mission, which orbited Earth for nearly eight days from September 12 to 20, 1992.
Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, and raised in Chicago, the youngest of three children. Her father worked as a maintenance supervisor for a charity, and her mother taught English and math at an elementary school. From an early age, Jemison wanted to study science and go to space, inspired partly by *Star Trek* and actress Nichelle Nichols. She loved nature and human physiology, but faced discouragement—a kindergarten teacher assumed she meant nurse when she said she wanted to be a scientist. The lack of female astronauts during the Apollo missions frustrated her. She began ballet at 8 or 9, entered high school at 12, and studied various dance styles, including African, Japanese, ballet, jazz, and modern. At 14, she auditioned for *West Side Story* and was cast as a background dancer.
After graduating high school in 1973, Jemison entered Stanford University at 16. She experienced discrimination as one of few African-American students but later said her “naive and stubborn” attitude helped. She led the Black Students Union and choreographed a dance production. Torn between medical school and professional dance, she graduated in 1977 with degrees in chemical engineering and African and African-American studies. While at Stanford, she first considered applying to NASA.
At Cornell Medical School, Jemison studied dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and traveled to Cuba, Thailand, and East Africa for medical work. She earned her M.D. in 1981, interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in 1982, and worked as a general practitioner. From 1983 to 1985, she served as a Peace Corps medical officer in Liberia and Sierra Leone, overseeing health care, writing manuals, and developing safety guidelines. She also helped the CDC with vaccine research.
After the Peace Corps, Jemison settled in Los Angeles, entered private practice, and took graduate engineering courses. Inspired by Sally Ride and Guion Bluford’s 1983 flights, she applied to NASA in October 1985. She joined the astronaut corps in 1987 and flew on Endeavour in 1992. She left NASA in 1993, founded a technology research company, and later started a non-profit educational foundation. Through that foundation, she leads the 100 Year Starship project, funded by DARPA. Jemison has written children’s books, appeared on *Star Trek: The Next Generation* in 1993, and holds several honorary doctorates. She has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.
- born
- October 17, 1956, Decatur, Alabama
- field
- Engineering, medicine, astronautics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- First African-American woman in space
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956, the youngest of three children. Her father was a maintenance supervisor for a charity organization, and her mother worked most of her career as an elementary school teacher of English and math. The family first lived in the Woodlawn and later the Morgan Park neighborhoods of Chicago. Jemison knew from a young age that she wanted to study science and someday go into space. The television show Star Trek and, in particular, African-American actress Nichelle Nichols' portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura further stoked her interest in space. After graduating from Chicago's Morgan Park High School in 1973, Jemison entered Stanford University at the age of 16. She graduated from Stanford in 1977, receiving a B.S. degree in chemical engineering and a B.A. degree in African and African-American studies. She then earned her medical degree from Cornell University in 1981. Jemison served as a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985 and worked as a general practitioner. Inspired by the flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford in 1983, Jemison applied to the astronaut program in October 1985. After NASA postponed selection following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, she reapplied in 1987 and was chosen out of roughly 2,000 applicants for 15 slots in NASA Astronaut Group 12. Jemison flew her only space mission from September 12 to 20, 1992, as one of the seven-member crew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, on mission STS-47. She logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space and orbited the Earth 127 times. The crew was split into two shifts with Jemison assigned to the Blue Shift. Throughout the eight-day mission, she began communications on her shift with the salute 'Hailing frequencies open', a quote from Star Trek. Jemison took a poster from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater along with her on the flight. She also took a West African statuette and a photo of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman. Jemison resigned from NASA in March 1993 to start a company. She founded The Jemison Group Inc. in 1993, a consulting firm which considers the sociocultural impact of technological advancements and design. She also founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, naming it in honor of her mother. One of the projects of the foundation is The Earth We Share, a science camp for students aged 12 to 16, founded in 1994. Jemison has also written several books for children and appeared on television, including in a 1993 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She holds several honorary doctorates and has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.
Reader's Guide
Mae Jemison's significance lies in her role as the first African-American woman to travel into space, breaking racial and gender barriers in the U.S. space program. Her 1992 mission on Endeavour demonstrated the inclusion of women and minorities in NASA's astronaut corps, following the earlier flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford in 1983. Beyond her spaceflight, Jemison's career as a physician, Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and founder of technology and educational organizations reflects a commitment to science and public service. Her work on the 100 Year Starship project funded by DARPA and her appearances in popular culture, such as a 1993 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, have helped inspire interest in space exploration among diverse audiences. Her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame underscores her lasting impact.
Did You Know?
- Jemison began studying ballet at the age of 8 or 9 and learned several styles of dance, including African, Japanese, ballet, jazz, and modern dance.
- At the age of 14, she auditioned for the leading role of Maria in West Side Story and was selected as a background dancer.
- While at Stanford, Jemison served as head of the Black Students Union and choreographed a musical and dance production called Out of the Shadows.
- During her training at Cornell Medical School, Jemison traveled to Cuba to conduct a study funded by the American Medical Student Association and worked at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand.
- Jemison took a West African statuette and a photo of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman with her on the STS-47 mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mae Jemison?
Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. She is best known for breaking a historic barrier in 1992 as the first African-American woman to travel into space.
What mission did Mae Jemison fly on?
She served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during its 1992 flight. In that role she helped conduct in-orbit experiments and supported the crew's broader scientific objectives.
What was Mae Jemison's background before joining NASA?
Before her astronaut career she built professional experience in both engineering and medicine, giving her a rare dual expertise. That combination of technical and clinical knowledge helped distinguish her within the astronaut corps.
Why is Mae Jemison considered a space pioneer?
Her 1992 orbit shattered a long-standing racial and gender boundary in human spaceflight. She proved that the astronaut community could include voices from a much wider slice of American society.
What did Mae Jemison do after leaving NASA?
Following her time as an astronaut she pursued work at the crossroads of technology, health, and entrepreneurship. Her post-NASA ventures have touched biotechnology, education, and global development initiatives.
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