Check out Mae C. Jemison, the first African-American woman to be a US astronaut. At the age of 16, Mae was admitted to Stanford University and began studying chemical engineering. She then attended medical school at Cornell University and then began working as a doctor. Afterward, she joined the Peace Corps and visited West Africa, and then practiced medicine at a Cambodian refugee camp. In 1987, she was selected for NASA's astronaut program and was the first black woman to travel into orbit. After she left NASA, she founded the Jemison Group which helps improve health care in Africa...she's even appeared on Star Trek! Mae C. Jemison is absolutely a Badass Chick! Learn all about her here.

If you have any suggestions for Badass Chick of the Day, please email me: loren@elvisduran.com or tweet me: @lorenraye - I love your ideas!