On June 9, 1991, NASA publicly confirmed astronaut Mae Jemison’s assignment to the upcoming STS-47 space mission. Her selection positioned her to become the first African American woman in space. Jemison, a physician, engineer, and polyglot, shattered long-standing barriers in a field dominated by white men. Her announcement drew international attention and widespread celebration within African American communities, especially among young girls in STEM. Jemison’s 1992 spaceflight would cement her as a symbol of excellence and possibility, but June 9 marked the day she officially began preparing to make history.
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