Mae Carol Jemison

(1956--Present)

As a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison has always reached for the stars. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space. She has also written several books and appeared on many televison programs including an episode of Start Trek: The Next Generation. In addition to her many awards, Jemison has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame.

Childhood

Born in Decatur, Alabama
She Moved to Chicago at the age of 3
Her father was a maintance worker and her mother and Elementary School Teacher

Education

She attended Stanford University on a full scholarship at the age of 16
She studied Chemical Engineering and African American Studies at Stanford
She proceeded to get her doctorate from Cornell University

Career

She stater The Jemison Group, a consulting company that encourages sciience, technology and social change
She trained with NASA and she received her first mission on September 28, 1989
On September 12, 1992 Jemison and six other astronauts went into space on the space shuttle Endeavor.

Fun Facts

She Speaks Russian, Japanese and Swahili
She appeared in an episode of Star Treck: Next Generation
She was the first American woman to go to outer space in 1992
She went on to write her first book in 2001, Find Where the Wind Goes which was a children's book about her life