The Endeavor

After the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, NASA replaced it in 1991 with Endeavor. This new space shuttle’s missions included experiments in biology, such as how the environment of space, specifically weightlessness, affects fertility in frogs. African-American doctor Mae Jemison would be in charge of the experiments in space. Endeavor explores these historic experiments in space and the preparation for them on the ground. These experiments contributed to our knowledge how life can be sustained in space, questions that need to be answered if humans intend to live in space for extended periods.

Endeavor would be useful for classes on Biology, Women’s History, African-American History and Science and Technology. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

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1. There is a loss of gravity as you travel into space. What is gravity? How does it define our environment? How do environments with gravity and without gravity differ?

2. Astronauts must go through months of rigorous training in order to go into space. Describe this training.

3. Mae Jemison traveled on the Endeavor to conduct fertility experiments. How did Mae Jemison defy the odds to reach the stars?

4. Discuss Mae Jemison’s accomplishments.

5. What was Mae Jemison’s mission aboard the Endeavor?

6. How were these experiments conducted?

7. Endeavor, like other space ships and shuttles maintains an orbit around the earth. How is this orbit maintained?

8. Discuss why Mae Jemison is a “new explorer.”

1. Imagine that you are an astronaut abroad the Endeavor. Create a journal or travel log of your adventures.

2. Compare Mae Jemison with other great women in American history. What do they have in common?

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Air Dates

• May 14, 2002