Mae Jemison: The First African American Female Astronaut

Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956. She was the youngest of three children born to Charlie Jemison, a carpenter, and Dorothy Jemison, a teacher. Jemison's parents were both very supportive of her education, and they encouraged her to pursue her dreams. She attended public schools in Decatur and excelled in math and science. In high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and the Science Club. She also played the piano and the flute.

After graduating from high school, Jemison attended Stanford University, where she earned a B.S. in chemical engineering in 1977. She then went on to Cornell University, where she earned an M.D. in 1981. After completing her medical degree, Jemison worked as a general practitioner in Los Angeles for two years. In 1985, she applied to NASA's astronaut training program and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1987.

Women in Science and Technology: Mae C. Jemison—The First African-American Female Astronaut, Grades 1-3 Interactive Book With Illustrations, Vocabulary, Extension Activities (24 pgs)

by Meeg Pincus

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4339 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	24 pages

FREE

Jemison's first spaceflight was on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She became the first African American woman to travel into space. During her mission, she conducted experiments on the effects of spaceflight on the human body. She also participated in a spacewalk, during which she helped to deploy a satellite. Jemison's second spaceflight was on the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1994. During this mission, she conducted experiments on the effects of microgravity on the human body. She also participated in a spacewalk, during which she helped to retrieve a satellite.

Jemison retired from NASA in 1993 and went on to become a professor at Cornell University. She is also the founder of the Jemison Group, a company that provides educational programs for students. Jemison is a role model for young people, especially young women and minorities. She has shown that anything is possible if you have a dream and you're willing to work hard to achieve it.

Interactive Activities

• Timeline of Mae Jemison's life and career
• Quiz on Mae Jemison's accomplishments
• Activity sheet on space exploration
• Links to websites with more information about Mae Jemison and space exploration

Additional Resources

• NASA's website for kids about Mae Jemison
• The Famous People website about Mae Jemison
• Britannica Encyclopedia article about Mae Jemison

Women in Science and Technology: Mae C. Jemison—The First African-American Female Astronaut, Grades 1-3 Interactive Book With Illustrations, Vocabulary, Extension Activities (24 pgs)

by Meeg Pincus

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4339 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	24 pages

FREE