Mae Jemison

Women in Science

Mae Jemison October 17, 1956 – Present

About

The first African-American woman in space. Jemison became an astronaut in 1987. She served as a science mission specialist on the mission STS-47 and conducted experiments on her crew members and herself to study motion sickness and weightlessness.

Jemison left NASA in 1993 and went on to found the Jemison Group, an organization that works to spread the use of advanced technology around the world and inspire young kids to take an interest in science.

Did you Know?

Although being born in Decatur, Alabama, Jemison considers Chicago, Illinois her hometown.

Jemison can speak four languages, including Russian, Japanese, and Swahili.