17th October 1956

Renowned as a trailblazing physician, chemical engineer, and former NASA astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison made history in September 1992 as the first African American woman to travel into space. 

Aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour for the historic STS-47 mission, Dr. Jemison served as a Science Mission Specialist, logging over 190 hours in orbit while conducting pioneering medical research on weightlessness, motion sickness, and bone cell development. Her remarkable journey to the stars was built on a multifaceted career; entering Stanford University at just 16 years old to study chemical engineering and African American studies, she went on to earn her Doctorate in Medicine from Cornell University and served as an area medical officer for the Peace Corps in West Africa.

Beyond her historic spaceflight, Dr. Jemison has dedicated her life to breaking down institutional barriers and fostering global science literacy through impactful educational initiatives like the international science camp The Earth We Share and the 100 Year Starship project.