Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut who became the first Black woman to travel into space in 1992. Before joining NASA she worked as a doctor and served with the Peace Corps in West Africa. Inspired as a child by seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek, she later appeared as a guest actor on Star Trek: The Next Generation, becoming the first real astronaut to appear on the show. She continues to encourage young people, especially girls, to pursue careers in science and space exploration.