For this extraordinary accomplishment, Dr. Jemison and her fellow—six men aboard a spacecraft also blasted into orbit. Her amazing feats take her beyond the astronaut world; today she is not only a scientist but also public speaker.
Who is Mae Jemison?
In 1992 Dr. Mae Jemison became a trailblazing physician and scientist when she became the first Black woman to explore space. She obtained degrees from Stanford and Cornell Universities and served as a medical officer in the Peace Corps.
On June 4, 1987, Jemison realised a lifelong dream when she became the first black woman given a NASA Astronaut Corps Order. In this latently euphoric moment, one who had sought after it all her life was able to soar beyond her immediate program—jump right out into the unknown. She flew aboard the Endeavour on September 12, 1992 to participate in mission STS-47 and secured her place in history that day. Dr. Jemison’s many honors and honorary doctorate degrees bespeak her major contributions. She is still active as a scientist and public speaker today.
Early Life and Education
Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, in Devonne, Ala. Little known among most schoolchildren today is the fact that she’s both from this city. Her father, Charlie Jemison, was a roofer and carpenter while her mother, Dorothy Jemison, was an elementary school teacher. Her brother Charles became a successful real estate broker and sister Ada made her mark as a child psychiatrist.
Her family moved to Chicago at the age of three, seeking better educational opportunities. Encouraged by her parents to pursue an early interest in science, especially astronomy, she entered Morgan Park High School. There she became interested, in particular, in biomedical engineering. A National Achievement Scholarship enabled Jemison to study at Stanford University where she graduated in 1973 as an honor student.
At Stanford, Jemison was still involved in extracurricular activities ranging from dance and theater to leadership roles such as being a Black Student Union president. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1977.
Jemison continued her education at Cornell University Medical College, where she pursued studies in Cuba and Kenya and worked at a Thai Cambodian refugee camp. She earned her Doctor of medicine degree in 1981.
Medical Career
With the completion of her M.D., Jemison did an internship at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center and private practice. In January 1983 she was assigned to Sierra Leone and Liberia as the Peace Corps medical officer, where she served for two and a half years. At that time she also taught and did research on rabies, schistosomiasis (a parasitic disease particularly common in warm climates) and the Hepatitis B vaccine.
Breaking Barriers as NASA’s First Black Female Astronaut
On her return to the US in 1985, Jemison elected to take up another long-felt ambition–that of becoming an astronaut. She applied for NASA’s astronaut program in October of that year. Although the Challenger disaster in January 1986 interrupted the application season, Jemison re-applied the following year and was chosen as one of 15 finalists from an initial pool of roughly 2000 plus other applicants.
