On this day in space! NASA astronaut Mae Jemison makes history as the 1st Black woman in space
On Sept. 12, 1992, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go to space. Here's why it mattered.
On September 12, 1992, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison embarked on a historic journey, becoming the first African American woman to venture into space. This significant achievement marked a milestone for Black astronauts and contributed to a more diverse space agency. Jemison, born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, had already made an impact as a Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia before joining NASA's astronaut corps in 1987.
Her passion for space was sparked by her admiration for Lt. Uhura, a Black woman astronaut portrayed in Star Trek. Jemison's mission, STS-47, was the 50th space shuttle mission and her only spaceflight, lasting eight days in orbit aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. During her time in space, she oversaw various experiments for Japan and the United States, and served as a co-investigator on a bone cell study.
Jemison's contributions to space exploration were not limited to her own mission. Nine years after her historic flight, she appeared as a lieutenant on Star Trek: The Next Generation, solidifying the connection between her inspiration and her own journey in space. In 1993, Jemison retired from NASA and founded the Jemison Group, a technology consulting firm, further demonstrating her dedication to advancing science and technology.
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