A multi-talented woman from Alabama United States, Mae Carol Jemison has set the record as the first-ever African-American woman to fly to space after completing a mission with America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1992.
Mae Carol Jemison, now 66, became an inspiration for many young scholars across the world after setting her record achievement. As a young girl, she found interest in science and arts and started dancing at the age of eleven.
At the young age of 16, she was accepted to Stanford University in California, United States to earn a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. After a series of exceptional academic journeys, she graduated from the institution with two Bachelor’s degrees, in Chemical Engineering and also a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies.
Shortly after earning two degrees at Stanford University, Mae Carol Jemison enrolled to become a Medical Doctor at Cornell University in New York, United States.
Mae Carol Jemison later became a Medical Doctor in 1981, adding to her series of academic achievements which included being a Chemical Engineer. She joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and worked as an astronaut in the Space center.
Jemison was in the first group of astronauts chosen after the lapse in flights following the Challenger explosion and flew on Sept. 12, 1992, making 127 orbits of the Earth.
Jemison expressed delight to be a source of reference to people out there that their dreams are possible. “I’m not the first woman of color, the first African-American woman, who had the skills, the talent, the desire to be an astronaut. I know that I happen to be the first one that NASA selected, right now the only one,” she said, at the time.
Before setting the new record, only three Black Americans, all men, had flown in space.
“I don’t want it to just be Lt. Uhura in `Star Trek,’ whom I watched all the time and I thought it was wonderful. … I want people to know those things can be true, and they’re real,” she added.
FAQs About 36-year‑old Mae Carol Jemison:
Who is Mae Carol Jemison?
Mae Carol Jemison, born October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama, is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and African‑American studies from Stanford, then obtained her MD from Cornell University.
When did she make history in space, and at what age?
At age 36, Jemison flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS‑47, launching on September 12, 1992. She spent nearly eight days in orbit, becoming the first African‑American woman to travel into space.
What were her duties and achievements during STS‑47?
As the Science Mission Specialist, Jemison conducted key experiments including those on space motion sickness, frog fertilization, and bone‑cell research. Her mission lasted approximately 190 hours and 30 minutes, completing 127 orbits.
What path did she follow to reach NASA?
After earning her MD in 1981, Jemison practiced medicine and served in the Peace Corps as a medical officer from 1983–85 in Sierra Leone and Liberia. In 1987, she was selected from 2,000 applicants as one of 15 in NASA’s Astronaut Group 12, becoming the first African‑American woman chosen for astronaut training.
What has Jemison done since leaving NASA?
After resigning in March 1993, she founded The Jemison Group (a tech consulting firm) and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence. She also initiated the 100 Year Starship project, aimed at enabling human interstellar travel within a century. She’s a prolific author, educator (with roles at Dartmouth and Cornell), and appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1993.