Who is the hidden figure mathematician?

The “Hidden Figures” of Mathematics: Finally Seeing the Stars

For years, when we thought about NASA’s incredible achievements, we pictured brilliant engineers and brave astronauts. But there’s a crucial part of the story that often went untold: the contributions of a group of phenomenally talented African-American women. These women, nicknamed “human computers,” were the unsung heroes, performing mind-boggling calculations that were absolutely vital to the U.S. space program. Imagine the challenges they faced, battling both gender and racial discrimination, yet their work was indispensable to America’s victories in the Space Race. The movie “Hidden Figures,” based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book, finally gave them their due, but let’s dive deeper. Who were these extraordinary mathematicians?

Katherine Johnson: Charting the Course to the Stars

Born Creola Katherine Coleman in 1918, in West Virginia, Katherine Johnson was a math whiz from day one. I mean, this woman was gifted. She blazed through college, graduating at just 18, and by 1953, she was crunching numbers for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA.

Katherine wasn’t just good; she was legendary. Trajectory calculations? Piece of cake for her, even with the limited technology they had back then. She was the brains behind the trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s groundbreaking 1961 mission, Freedom 7 – you know, America’s first time sending a human to space! But here’s the kicker: before John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission in 1962, he specifically asked Katherine to personally double-check the computer’s calculations. That’s how much faith they had in her! Talk about pressure! And get this, her calculations were also essential to the Space Shuttle program, and she even worked on plans for a human trip to Mars. Over her career, she co-authored 26 scientific papers. In 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a truly well-deserved honor. She lived a long and impactful life, passing away at 101 in 2020. What a legacy!

Dorothy Vaughan: A Pioneer Leading the Way

Dorothy Vaughan, born in Missouri in 1910, started at NACA’s Langley lab in 1943. She thought it would just be a temporary gig during the war, a break from teaching math. Little did she know! Dorothy was assigned to the West Area Computing unit, a segregated group where she and other black women did the heavy lifting with complex calculations.

Then, in 1949, Dorothy shattered barriers. She became the head of the West Area Computing Unit, making her NACA’s first African-American supervisor and one of the few women in charge. For almost a decade, she led the charge. When NACA became NASA in ’58, segregation was out, and Dorothy jumped into the world of FORTRAN programming, becoming an expert and contributing to the Scout Launch Vehicle Program. She retired from NASA in 1971. She passed away in 2008, but her impact is still felt today.

Mary Jackson: Breaking Ground as an Engineer

Born in Virginia in 1921, Mary Jackson’s NASA journey began in 1951 as a “human computer” in Dorothy Vaughan’s West Area Computing unit. Two years later, she got a chance to work with engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki, running experiments in a high-speed wind tunnel.

Czarnecki saw something special in Mary. He pushed her to join a training program to become an engineer. Here’s where it gets tough: because of segregation, she had to get special permission to attend classes with white students. But Mary was determined. She finished the courses, and in 1958, she made history as NASA’s first black female engineer! For 20 years, she worked on airflow around aircraft. Later, in 1979, she took a step back to become the manager of NASA’s women’s program, dedicating herself to creating opportunities for other women. Mary retired in 1985 and passed away in 2005. What a trailblazer!

Christine Darden: Breaking the Sound Barrier and More

“Hidden Figures” gave us a glimpse into the lives of Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary, but there were so many other incredible women at NASA. Christine Darden, born in North Carolina in 1942, is another name we should all know. She joined the Langley Research Center in 1967 after earning a Master’s in mathematics and teaching at Virginia State University.

Christine started in the computing pool, just like many of the other women, but she quickly moved into an engineering role. She earned a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering in 1983 and became the expert on supersonic flight and sonic booms. Seriously, she was a rock star in her field. She was also the first African-American woman at Langley to reach the Senior Executive Service, the highest level in federal civil service. She retired in 2007 as director of the Office of Strategic Communication and Education.

Their Enduring Legacy

The “Hidden Figures,” along with countless other women who crunched numbers at NASA, were essential to the agency’s success during the Space Race. They faced prejudice head-on, shattered glass ceilings, and paved the way for future generations in STEM. Their story is a powerful reminder that diversity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords – they’re crucial for innovation and progress. These women weren’t just hidden figures; they were stars, and it’s time we all knew their names.