Many people dream of flying to space. But not everyone can have this chance of a lifetime. Mae Carol Jemison had her chance of a lifetime aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 1992. She did not only go to space but made history as well when she became the first African American woman to go to space.
There are many interesting things about Jemison. She is an astronaut and a trained medical doctor. She previously served as a Medical Officer in the Peace Corps. But in addition to this, do you know that she is also a trained dancer?
Not many people know that Jemison left NASA just a year after she went on her mission to space. What is the reason behind this? What did Jemison do after leaving NASA?
October 17th is Jemison's birthday. She turns 66 today. And to celebrate her special day, let's revisit some of the important facts about Jemison.
1. At a Very Young Age, Jemison Already Knew that She Wanted to Study Science
It seems that Jemison had always known that she wanted to study science. This seems to be apparent at a very young age. She was influenced by what she had watched on television. It includes the Apollo airings. The fact that there were no female astronauts upset her, according to Women's History. Her interest in science inspired her to travel to space one day.
2. Jemison is the First African American Woman in Space
Jemison applied to NASA in 1985. However, NASA decided to take a break from accepting new people during that time because of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. In 1987, Jemison applied once again. Out of the 2,000 people who applied, she was chosen as one of the 15 accepted applicants.
She trained with NASA, where she also worked on various projects at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to NASA. Finally, aboard the space shuttle Endeavor, Jemison, together with six other astronauts, went into space on September 12, 1992, making her the first African American woman in space. Their mission lasted until September 20, 1992.
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3. Jemison is the First Real Astronaut Who Appeared in 'Star Trek'
"Star Trek" actor LeVar Burton heard that Jemison was a fan of the science fiction television show. Because of this, Burton invited Jemison to appear in an episode of "Star Trek." Her guesting in the said episode officially made her the first real astronaut to appear in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." In the episode "Second Chances," Jemison played the role of Lieutenant Palmer.
4. Jemison Started the Jemison Group After She Left NASA in 1993
The following year after her flight to space aboard Endeavor, Jemison left NASA. She served as an astronaut for NASA for a total of six years. NASA's training manager and author Homer Hickam, who had trained Jemison for her flight, later expressed some regret that she had departed from the agency.
After her departure from NASA, she started The Jemison Group. In addition, Jemison also started teaching environmental studies at Dartmouth College. The following year, in 1994, she decided to put up The Earth We Share (TEWS). It's an international space camp for students 12-16 years old.
5. Jemison is a Trained Dancer
Jemison built a dance studio in her home. She also choreographed and produced several shows of modern jazz and African dance. On her space mission, she even brought a poster from her dance school. At one point, she debated whether she would pursue a career in medicine or become a professional dancer.
Related Article: Mae Jemison Became the First African American Woman to Fly in Space on This Day in 1992
