First Woman Of Color In Space To Speak On UA Campus Friday

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama has announced that the first woman of color to go to outer space as an astronaut will be the opening keynote speaker for the Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium on Friday.

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Dr. Mae C. Jemison — a Decatur native and former NASA astronaut — also leads 100 Year Starship, which is non-profit for space exploration. The nonprofit aims to assure the capabilities exist for human travel beyond the solar system to another star within the next 100 years.

As part of the effort, Jemison is building a multifaceted global community to foster the cultural, scientific, social and technical commitment, support and financial framework to accomplish the nonprofit's vision.

As an astronaut, Jemison was a crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-47 Spacelab J mission in September 1992. During the mission, Jemison conducted experiments in material science, life sciences and human adaptation to weightlessness.

The Gloria and John L. Blackburn Academic Symposium will be held at the University of Alabama Student Center Theater, with Jemison set to take the stage at 4:15 p.m.

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