Willingboro Township Public Schools

Dr. Mae Jemison was born in 1956 in Decatur, Alabama. In 1985, she applied to NASA’s astronaut training program. On September 12, 1992, Dr. Jemison flew into space aboard the Endeavour on mission STS47. She became the first African-American woman in space. During her eight days in space, Dr. Jemison conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness on the crew and herself. In all, she spent more than 190 hours in space before returning to Earth on September 20, 1992. Following her historic flight, Dr. Jemison noted that society should recognize how much both women and members of other minority groups can contribute if given the opportunity.