Mae Jemison
1956– · American (Alabama/Houston) · Modern Era
Known for: First African American woman in space—physician, engineer, dancer, and interstellar travel advocate
Jemison is a physician and chemical engineer who joined NASA after the Challenger disaster and orbited Earth 127 times on Endeavour in 1992. She was inspired by Nichelle Nichols's Lt. Uhura on Star Trek and later appeared on The Next Generation.
She left NASA to found the Jemison Group for developing-world technologies and leads the 100 Year Starship project for interstellar travel. She speaks four languages and bridges science, art, and social justice.
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