Mae Jemison was an American astronaut and physician who became the first African-American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She was also a professor, entrepreneur, and peace activist. Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University and a medical degree from Cornell University. After completing her medical training, she joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1987.