Jemison, Mae C. 1957(?)—

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Mae C. Jemison 1957(?)—

Astronaut, physician

In June of 1987 Dr. Mae C. Jemison made history when she became the first black woman selected to be an astronaut by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jemison came a step closer to being the first black woman in space when she was assigned the role of mission specialist for the June 1991 shuttle Discovery flight, Spacelab-J. A joint venture with Japan, Spacelab-J is charged with conducting life science and materials processing experiments in space to help scientists better understand the environment. As a mission specialist—or “scientist astronaut”—Jemison’s responsibilities include, as she explained to Marilyn Marshall in Ebony, being “familiar with the shuttle and how it operates, to do the experiments once you get into orbit, to help launch the payloads or satellites, and also do extra-vehicular activities, which are the space walks.”

Becoming an astronaut was, as Marshall noted, a “natural progression” for Jemison. As a young girl and teenager she was always interested in science, especially astronomy, and was encouraged by her parents and teachers to pursue not only her science studies, but also dance and art. She earned a double degree at Stanford University—in chemical engineering and Afro-American studies— and then studied medicine at Cornell University. While at Cornell she traveled to Thailand and Kenya to provide primary medical care services. After completing her medical internship Jemison joined the Peace Corps and worked as a staff physician in West Africa. “I took care of Peace Corps volunteers and State Department personnel in Sierra Leone and I oversaw the medical health care program for volunteers in Liberia,” Jemison explained to an Ebony contributor.

Jemison was working as a general practitioner in Los Angeles when she first applied to the space program, in October of 1985—three months before the space shuttle Challenger accident that killed seven astronauts. NASA postponed the application process because of the Challenger incident, but Jemison still aspired to become an astronaut and re-applied in 1986. “I didn’t think about [the Challenger] in terms of keeping me involved,” she told Marshall. “I thought about it because it was very sad because of the astronauts who were lost, but not in any way keeping me from being interested in it or changing my views about things.” Jemison was one of 15 candidates

At a Glance…

Born c. 1957, in Decatur, AL; raised in Chicago, IL; daughter of Charlie (a custodian and contractor) and Dorothy (a teacher) Jemison. Education: Graduated from Stanford University (degree in chemical engineering and Afro-American Studies), 1977; Cornell University, M.D., 1981, Medical intern, Los Angeles, CA, beginning 1981 ; staff doctor with Peace Corps in West Africa, 1983-85; CIGNA Health Plans of California, Los Angeles, general practitioner, 1985-87; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Houston, TX, astronaut, 1987—.

Awards: Award from Essence magazine, 1988.

Addresses: Home —Houston, TX. Office —National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058.

selected from a field of nearly 2,000 aspiring astronauts. In addition to her assignment as mission specialist, she works as a liaison between the Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA crew members in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Joseph D. Atkinson, Jr., head of NASA’s Equal Opportunity Programs Office, described Jemison as a ’Very stately, intelligent, sincere and stable young woman/’ Commenting to Marshall, he added that Jemison earns high marks for being not only “highly qualified technically,” but also “extremely sensitive to the social needs of the community.” Regarding her role as the nation’s first black woman astronaut, Jemison commented to Ebony on what her achievement might signify to other women. “The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me. … In terms of being a role model, I really feel like if I’m a role model, what I’d like to be is someone who says, ’No, don’t try to necessarily be like me or live your life or grow up to be an astronaut or a physician unless that’s what you want to do.’”