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Love of science led her to become first African-American woman astronaut
Wednesday, February 09, 2000
Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Ala., in 1956 and moved to Chicago with her family when she was 3. Jemison showed great aptitude for science at an early age. She credits her uncle with sparking her first interest in science and technology, an interest that has become a passion.
Jemison entered Stanford University when she was 16, and in 1977, she graduated with degrees in chemical engineering and in African-American studies. Jemison went to medical school at Cornell University and earned her M.D. in 1981. After graduation, Jemison joined the Peace Corps and served for two years as a medical officer in West Africa.
Jemison later entered private practice in California and became interested in combining her interests in medicine and space. She applied twice to NASA to become an astronaut mission specialist before being accepted in 1987.
Jemison's first mission was on the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Her main role was to study the effects of microgravity on humans and animals. With this flight, Jemison became the fifth African-American astronaut and the first African-American woman to fly in space.
Less than a year after opening up new frontiers for African-Americans in the space program, the multitalented Jemison resigned from NASA in 1993 and founded the Jemison Group, dedicated to exploring the application of technology to social problems.
Jemison also is a member of the faculty at Dartmouth College in the Environmental Studies Department.
-- By John G. Radzilowicz, director, Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory
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