Mae Jemison (born October 17, 1956)

She is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut who made history as the first African-American woman to travel into space. She flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-47 mission in 1992, orbiting Earth for over a week. Jemison's early interest in science was nurtured by her family, and she pursued degrees in chemical engineering and African and African-American studies at Stanford University, followed by a medical degree from Cornell University. Before joining NASA, she served as a medical officer in the Peace Corps in West Africa. After leaving NASA in 1993, Jemison founded a technology research company and a non-profit educational foundation, continuing to inspire future generations through her work and advocacy.

 

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