6 Chapter 6: Mae’s Training at the Johnson Space Center

Astronaut candidates needed to have “the right stuff” to be selected. The first American person to orbit earth was a white man, John Glenn in 1962. Candidates needed to be jet pilots and 5 feet 11 inches tall to fit into the space capsule. But by 1983, things started to change at NASA. For the first time, NASA concentrated more on academic education instead of flight experience and candidates can be as tall as 6 feet 4 inches. It took twenty-one years for Sally Ride to be the first white woman to go into space. African-American men also started to go to space.

Mae Jemison had a good education and was selected into the program in 1987. Her training was intense and demanding. Candidates had to spend five years at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to complete their training. Mae’s training was an exciting and challenging. She had to learn many important things to prepare for her journey into space. Here is a list of some of the tasks and training she went through:

1. Learning About Spacecraft: Mae had to study and understand the spacecraft she would fly inside. She learned about the different controls, buttons, and systems. It was like learning to drive a very special and complex car.
2. Spacewalk Practice: Astronauts sometimes need to go outside the spacecraft to do important tasks in space. Mae practiced this by going underwater in a big pool wearing a special suit. The suits were similar to the suits astronauts wear in space. This helped her learn how to move in space without floating away.
3. Science Experiments: In space, astronauts do lots of science experiments. Mae had to learn how to conduct experiments in a weightless environment. She practiced with different types of equipment to make sure she could do them correctly in space.
4. Physical Fitness: Space travel can be tough on the body, so astronauts need to be in great shape. Mae had to exercise regularly to stay strong and healthy. She learned how to use special exercise machines designed for space.
5. Survival Skills: In case something went wrong during the mission, Mae and her fellow astronauts had to learn how to survive in different situations. They practiced escaping from a spacecraft in water and surviving in the wilderness.
6. Learning About the Stars and Planets: Understanding the stars and planets was crucial for an astronaut. Mae studied astronomy to help her navigate in space and recognize important celestial objects.
7. Working as a Team: Astronauts work closely with their team members, and Mae had to practice teamwork. They learned to communicate well and support each other during their missions.

There were three positions an astronaut can join a space crew: commander/pilot, mission specialist or pay-load specialist. The commander/pilot is in control of the space shuttle and responsible for everyone on board. The mission specialist does experiments on board and spacewalks. The pay-load specialist doesn’t have to be an astronaut. They can do a special job on flights or be a citizen from another country. In 1988, Mae was assigned to a shuttle mission as the mission specialist. She was the first Black woman astronaut.