Former astronaut (and Star Trek guest star) chosen to lead Starship project
Previously TrekMovie has reported on DARPA’s "100 Year Starship" project, which is exploring what it would take to put together a multigenerational mission beyond the solar system. And this week it was confirmed that former astronaut, and Star Trek: The Next Generation guest cameo, Dr. Mae Jemison will be heading up the effort. Jemison’ Foundation has been selected by DARPA and awarded a $500,000 contract to continue study of "the technological, political and social requirements for ultra-long-term projects such as interstellar space missions."
Jemison is best known for becoming the first black woman in as part of the STS-47 Spacelab J flight in 1992. And in 1993 Jemison appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Second Chances," playing Lieutenant Palmer. A genuine Trek fans, and friends with Nichelle Nichols, Jemison began each shift of her real space adventure by informing Mission Control "hailing frequencies were open." She was also the first of three "real" astronauts to appear on Star Trek, followed by E. Michael Finke and Terry Virts.
Dr. Mae Jemison in 1992 for her Shuttle flight, in 1993 on Star Trek: TNG and in 2011