Mae Jemison made history on September 12, 1992, by becoming the first African American woman to travel to space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. In NASA’s early years, opportunities for women and people of color were extremely limited; the first woman did not fly in space until 1983 and the first Black man followed later that same year.
Jemison was selected for the 50th space shuttle mission in 1992 after a distinguished career that included serving as an engineer and a physician in the Peace Corps. She logged over 190 hours in space and oversaw numerous scientific experiments aboard the Spacelab module during her mission.
Post-NASA, Jemison founded the Jemison Group, a consulting firm, and became a cultural icon after appearing in an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” fulfilling a childhood inspiration. Her journey symbolizes a significant milestone for the representation of Black astronauts and showcases NASA’s ongoing efforts toward diversity.
