History of Mae Jemison in Timeline

Mae Jemison is an accomplished American engineer, physician, and astronaut. In 1992, she made history as the first African-American woman to journey into space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-47). Before her spaceflight, Jemison joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1987. The Endeavour's mission lasted nearly eight days, during which Jemison conducted experiments and contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge in space.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

October 17, 1956: Birth of Mae Jemison

On October 17, 1956, Mae Carol Jemison was born. She would later become an engineer, physician, and the first African-American woman to travel into space.

Others born on this day/year

1973: Entered Stanford University

In 1973, after graduating from Chicago's Morgan Park High School, Mae Jemison entered Stanford University at the age of 16.

1977: Graduation from Stanford

In 1977, Mae Jemison graduated from Stanford University, receiving a B.S. degree in chemical engineering and a B.A. degree in African and African-American studies.

1981: Graduated with an M.D. degree

In 1981, Mae Jemison graduated from Cornell Medical School with an M.D. degree.

1982: Interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center

In 1982, Mae Jemison interned at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

1983: Peace Corps Doctor

In 1983, Mae Jemison became a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

1983: Joined the Peace Corps staff

In 1983, Mae Jemison joined the staff of the Peace Corps, responsible for the health of Peace Corps volunteers in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

1983: Inspired by the flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford

In 1983, the flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford inspired Mae Jemison to apply to the astronaut program in the future.

October 1985: Applied to astronaut program

In October 1985, inspired by Sally Ride and Guion Bluford's flights, Mae Jemison applied to the astronaut program.

1985: End of Peace Corps service

In 1985, Mae Jemison concluded her service as a medical officer with the Peace Corps.

1986: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

In 1986, after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, NASA postponed the selection of new astronaut candidates.

1987: Joined NASA's astronaut corps

In 1987, Mae Jemison joined NASA's astronaut corps. She was later selected to serve on the STS-47 mission.

1987: Reapplied to NASA

In 1987, Mae Jemison reapplied to the astronaut program at NASA and was chosen out of roughly 2,000 applicants.

September 28, 1989: Selected for STS-47 crew

On September 28, 1989, Mae Jemison was selected to join the STS-47 crew as Mission Specialist 4 and was also designated Science Mission Specialist.

1989: Featured on "Best Catches"

In 1989, Mae Jemison was featured as one of the country's "most eligible singles" on "Best Catches", a CBS television special.

1990: Board Member of World Sickle Cell Foundation

From 1990 to 1992, Mae Jemison served on the board of directors of the World Sickle Cell Foundation.

1992: Board Member of World Sickle Cell Foundation

From 1990 to 1992, Mae Jemison served on the board of directors of the World Sickle Cell Foundation.

1992: Travelled into Space

In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-47 mission, which orbited the Earth for nearly eight days.

1992: Flew on Space Shuttle Endeavour

In 1992, Mae Jemison flew her only space mission from September 12 to 20 as one of the seven-member crew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, on mission STS-47. She logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space and orbited the earth 127 times.

March 1993: Resigned from NASA

In March 1993, Mae Jemison resigned from NASA to start a company.

1993: Appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation

In 1993, Mae Jemison appeared as Lieutenant Palmer in "Second Chances", an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, becoming the first real-life astronaut to appear on Star Trek.

1993: Founded The Jemison Group Inc.

In 1993, Mae Jemison founded The Jemison Group Inc., a consulting firm which considers the sociocultural impact of technological advancements and design. She also founded the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.

1993: Left NASA and founded a company

In 1993, Mae Jemison left NASA to found a technology research company. She later formed a non-profit educational foundation and is the principal of the 100 Year Starship project funded by DARPA.

1994: Hosted World of Wonder

From 1994 to 1998, Mae Jemison appeared as host and technical consultant of the science series "World of Wonder", which aired on the Discovery Channel.

1994: Founded The Earth We Share

In 1994, Mae Jemison founded The Earth We Share, a science camp for students aged 12 to 16, through the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.

1995: Professor at Dartmouth College

From 1995 to 2002, Mae Jemison was a professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College, where she directed the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries.

1996: Complaint Filed Against Police Officer

In the spring of 1996, Mae Jemison filed a complaint against a Texas police officer for alleged police brutality during a traffic stop, leading to her arrest and subsequent lawsuit against the city of Nassau Bay and the officer.

1998: Hosted World of Wonder

From 1994 to 1998, Mae Jemison appeared as host and technical consultant of the science series "World of Wonder", which aired on the Discovery Channel.

1999: Appointed Professor-at-Large at Cornell University

From 1999 to 2005, Mae Jemison was appointed an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.

1999: Founded BioSentient Corp

In 1999, Mae Jemison founded BioSentient Corp and obtained the license to commercialize AFTE, the technique she and Mohri tested on themselves during STS-47.

2001: Published "Find Where the Wind Goes"

In 2001, Mae Jemison's first book, "Find Where the Wind Goes", a memoir of her life written for children, was published. The book describes her childhood, her time at Stanford, in the Peace Corps and as an astronaut.

Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments From My Life

Check it on Amazon

2002: Professor at Dartmouth College

From 1995 to 2002, Mae Jemison was a professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College, where she directed the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries.

2005: Appointed Professor-at-Large at Cornell University

From 1999 to 2005, Mae Jemison was appointed an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.

2006: Participated in African American Lives

In 2006, Mae Jemison participated in African American Lives, a PBS television miniseries hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. The show traced her family history, revealing she is 13% East Asian and that some of her paternal ancestors were slaves.

2007: Participated in Red Dress Heart Truth fashion show

In 2007, Mae Jemison participated in the Red Dress Heart Truth fashion show, wearing Lyn Devon, to help raise money to fight heart disease.

February 17, 2008: Featured speaker at Alpha Kappa Alpha anniversary

On February 17, 2008, Mae Jemison was the featured speaker for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first sorority established by African-American college women.

2008: Stanford Interview

In 2008, Mae Jemison said in an interview with The Des Moines Register that it was difficult to go to Stanford at 16 but that her youthful arrogance may have helped her and asserted that some arrogance is necessary for women and minorities to be successful in a white male dominated society.

March 2009: Participated in forum with Michelle Obama

In March 2009, Mae Jemison participated with First Lady Michelle Obama in a forum for promising girls in the Washington, D.C. public schools.

2012: Won bid for 100 Year Starship project

In 2012, Mae Jemison, through the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, made the winning bid for the DARPA 100 Year Starship project.

2013: Published A True Book series

In 2013, Mae Jemison co-authored the "A True Book" series of four children's books with Dana Meachen Rau.

2014: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Luncheon

In 2014, Mae Jemison appeared at Wayne State University for their annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Luncheon.

2016: Partnership with Bayer Corporation

In 2016, Mae Jemison partnered with Bayer Corporation to promote and advance science literacy in schools, with an emphasis on hands-on experimentation.

February 2017: Michigan State University Lecture

In February 2017, Mae Jemison participated in the Michigan State University's lecture series, "Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey".

May 2017: Lecture at Western Michigan University

Also in May 2017, Mae Jemison discussed the 100 Year Plan, science and education and other topics at Western Michigan University.

May 2017: Commencement Speech at Rice University

In May 2017, Mae Jemison gave the commencement speech at Rice University, discussing the 100 Year Plan, science and education, among other topics.

2017: LEGO "Women of NASA" Set Release

In 2017, LEGO released the "Women of NASA" set, featuring minifigures of Mae Jemison, Margaret Hamilton, Sally Ride, and Nancy Grace Roman.

2018: Collaborated with Bayer and National 4-H Council

In 2018, Mae Jemison collaborated with Bayer Crop Science and the National 4-H Council for the initiative named Science Matters, aimed at encouraging young children to understand and pursue agricultural sciences.

March 8, 2019: Google Doodle Feature

On March 8, 2019, Mae Jemison's quote, "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations," was featured in the Google Doodle for International Women's Day.