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Mae Jemison Facts

Katrina

Written by Katrina

Modified & Updated: 18 Sep 2024

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Expert Verified Editorial Guidelines
Interesting Facts about Mae Jemison

As the first female Black astronaut in space, Mae Jemison is an inspiration to many. However, only a few know about Jemison beyond her life as an astronaut. If you’re interested in learning about the first woman in space, then keep on reading for more interesting facts about Mae Jemison!

Quick Facts
Interesting Facts
Essential Facts
  1. Mae Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 minutes in a co-op mission while in space.
  2. She worked as the mission specialist of the STS-47, the 50th shuttle mission.
  3. Mae Jemison was only 16 years old when she started college at Stanford.
  4. In 1977, Mae graduated from Stanford with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
  5. In 1981, she graduated from Cornell Medical College.
  1. Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama.
  2. Her mother, Dorothy Green, was an elementary school teacher, and her father, Charlie Jemison, was a maintenance supervisor.
  3. Mae Jemison is the youngest of three children.
  4. From 1990 to 1992, Jemison was on the Board of Directors of the World Sickle Cell Foundation.
  5. She served as a Peace Corps Medical Officer in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 to 1985.
  6. After working as an astronaut for six years, Mae Jemison resigned in 1993.
  7. After resigning, she taught at Cornell University and Dartmouth College.
  8. In 1993, Mae Jemison also founded the Jemison Group for researching science and technology.
  9. As a black woman, Mae Jemison also advocates for minorities to join the field of science.
  10. Mae Jemison currently lives in Houston, Texas.
  1. Mae Jemison traveled to Cuba, Kenya, and Thailand as a general practitioner of medicine.
  2. As a medical officer in the Peace Corps, Jemison supervised the medical staff, pharmacy, and laboratory. She also wrote self-care manuals, guidelines, and various research.
  3. Jemison is involved with several organizations such as the Kimberly-Clark Corp., Texas Medical Center, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
  4. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 delayed Mae Jemison’s application with NASA.
  5. Jemison is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine.
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