Astronaut Jemison: These Facts Will Blow Your Mind!

Female astronauts are a rare sight to see but in the last few decades, there have been more female astronauts.

We have seen many women travel to space aboard NASA missions. But do you want to know more about the first African American woman in space?

The life of astronaut Jemison is an inspiration to many. She became an astronaut at a time where female astronauts were less thought of.

The life of Mae Jemison is filled with many achievements but the world knows her as the first African American female astronaut in space. Let's learn more about the life of Mae Jemison and her achievements. Afterward, also check out astronaut facts and astronaut John Glenn biography.

Post-NASA Career

Dr Mae Carol Jemison, at the age of 35, became the first African American woman astronaut to travel into space. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to be selected for the NASA astronaut program in 1987. 

In 1993, NASA astronaut Mae Jemison left NASA. What is the post-NASA career of the first African American woman astronaut, Mae Carol Jemison?

After leaving NASA, Jemison started a technological research company called Jemison Group Inc. Apart from the Jemison Group, she is also the founder of the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for excellence. The foundation conducts many science camp programs and space exploration activities for high school students around South Africa, the United States, Tunisia, and Switzerland.

In 1995, Mae Jemison joined the American institute Dartmouth College as an assistant professor of environmental studies. It was here that she served the Jemison Institute for advancing technology in developing countries.

She founded the Biosentient Corp in 1999. It is evident that even though astronaut Mae Jemison retired in 1993, her career and science endeavors didn’t stop there. She moved on further and blossomed after being the first African American woman in space.

Books By Mae Carol Jemison

Mae C Jemison has many titles to honor her life. She is an engineer, an astronaut, a physician, and also an author. Describing her experience as an African American woman in space, she wrote many books. She wrote these books based on her experiences and her knowledge.

The first book of Mae Jemison is named ‘Find Where The Wind Goes’. It was published in 2001. The book talks about her life but is written for children. Her childhood, her life at Stanford University, her experience in the peace corps, and her life as an astronaut are all described in this book.

She also published a book series called ‘A True Book’. This book series was co-authored by Dana Meachen Rau and has four children's books. The book series was published in 2013.

It is a highly engaging book series with a ‘Find The Truth’ challenge in each book. It is quite evident from her books that she wanted to teach the interesting world of science to children. Her book is one of the ways through which she fulfilled this mission.

The Personal Life Of Mae Carol Jemison

The personal life of former astronaut Jemison is filled with science and dance.

She loved dancing and didn’t leave that passion of hers behind. Even though the science world keeps her busy, she is devoted as an educator too. She left NASA for this reason.

Jemison wanted to focus more on teaching and mentoring. She wanted to focus on increasing the opportunities of students that are left out in society in science and technology. This mission of hers is being fulfilled by her various accomplishments.

Honors And Awards Received By Mae Carol Jemison

Let's talk about the early life of Mae Jemison and how she became the person that she is today. Mae C Jemison was born on October 17, 1956 in Alabama. She was born to Charlie Jemison and Dorothy Jemison.

Since childhood, she wanted to become an astronaut. The TV show ‘Star Trek’ inspired her further to fulfill this dream. In 'Star Trek', the role of Lieutenant Uhura was done by an actress of African American origin.

Jemison grew up loving and learning science. She noticed the lack of female astronauts during her early life. Apart from science, Mae Jemison also loved dancing.

She performed as a background dancer for a show. Jemison graduated from high school in Chicago and entered Stanford University at the age of 16 years. She faced discrimination as an African American at the university.

While at the university, she was the leader of the Black Student Union. In the year 1977, she completed her graduation from Stanford University.

She graduated with a BA in African American studies and a science degree in chemical engineering. Jemison applied for a position at NASA while she was studying at the university, but the selection was postponed. Later on, she joined the Cornell Medical School for completing medical research and Jemison served at a Cambodian Refugee Camp as well.

After joining the Peace Corps as a medical officer in 1983, she held the position for a period of two years. Finally, in the year 1987, Jemison was selected to NASA after reapplying.

She was involved in Kennedy Space Center activities. Her space shuttle endeavor happened in 1989 on STS-47. She was appointed as the mission specialist and also the science mission specialist of this space shuttle. After her first space flight, Jemison decided to leave NASA and start a company of her own.

Early Life And Education Of Mae Carol Jemison

Mae Jemison received various honors and awards for her achievements. Apart from taking the historic flight that made her the first African American woman in space, there are many other honors in her name.

She received many awards like the Essence Science and Technology Award, the Gamma Sigma Woman of The Year, the Ebony Black Achievement Award, the Kilby Science Award, the Turner Trumpet Award, the Intrepid Award given by the National Organization for Girls, the Rachel Carson Award, the Buzz Aldrin Space Pioneer Award and the Sylvanus Thayer Award.

Mae Jemison was also featured in the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993 and the International Space Hall of Fame in 2004. She made a name for herself among the 50 most influential women in Ebony Magazine.

She also received several honorary doctorates and was also part of many institutions. An example is the Mae C Jemison Academy in Detroit which is an alternative public school.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for astronaut Jemison then why not take a look at Augustine Washington children or space rocks.