Mathematicians in Space: The “Hidden Figures” of NASA

Mathematicians in Space: The Hidden Figures of NASA

We all know the names of the American men who traveled into space: John Glen, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to name a few. What is not as well-known is the group of African American female mathematicians who made their journeys into space possible. Profiled in the 2016 movie release, "Hidden Figures", these “human computers” as they were called, developed and solved the most complex mathematical equations by hand to ensure safe space travel.   Let's learn about four African American women and their individual contributions to the world of mathematics and space travel.

Dorothy Vaughn

Dorothy Vaughn was a true trailblazer, serving as NASA’s first African American supervisor. Vaughn joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), then known as NACA, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in 1943 after leaving her job as a mathematics schoolteacher. Vaughn wanted to take advantage of the recent executive order that formally prohibited segregation in America’s federal government, thus allowing her an opportunity.  NASA was looking for women to review research data gathered to study how to send a rocket into space and they formed a racially segregated group known as the West Area Computing Unit at a research laboratory in Virginia. In 1949, Vaughn was selected to lead this group. Over the next 10 years, her unit had a pivotal role in performing calculations and research that eventually led to the first man on the moon.  Vaughn led the team until 1958 when NASA was no longer segregated and became a computer programmer. She worked with early computer programming applications and a program for satellite launching rockets.  Unfortunately, Vaughn retired from NASA never receiving another management position, but her legacy lives on through those she mentored.

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson is one of most well-known “hidden figures” thanks to the popular film.  A brilliant student, Katherine began high school at only 10 years old and enrolled in college at 15 to study to become a mathematician. She first joined NASA in 1953 as a research mathematician studying flight design.  Using geometry, Katherine and her all-male team determined the best way for a spaceship to travel around the earth, sending the first American into space orbit in 1962. She also later performed calculations for America’s first trip to the moon in 1969.

Thankfully, Johnson’s work has received some recognition in recent years. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015, our nation's highest non-military honor. Just this month, in honor of Black History Month, NASA named a spacecraft after her, the S.S. Katherine Johnson.

Mary Jackson

Mary Jackson came to NASA in 1951, working under the direction of Dorothy Vaughn. While working in the West Area Computing Unit, a fellow male engineer suggested she apply for a training program to become an engineer due to her expertise and skills. Due to segregation at the time, Mary needed special permission from the city of Hampton, Virginia to attend classes with her white colleagues. Mary persevered and in 1958 she became NASA's first black female engineer.

After 20 years as an engineer, Jackson transitioned to managing Langley's Federal Women's Program, a program dedicated to the recruitment and training of women in the federal government to ensure equal job opportunities are available for women to obtain the leadership positions and promotions Jackson was often denied. In recognition of her contributions, NASA named their agency headquarters in Washington, DC after her in June 2020. It is now the Mary W. Jackson NASA headquarters.

Dr. Christine Darden

The work of the three women before her paved the way for Dr. Christine Darden. A former mathematician, Darden joined NASA in 1967, starting out performing mathematical calculations for engineers. After realizing she had the same educational credentials as the male engineers she was working under, she protested and was promoted to a position as an aerospace engineer, although she was one of few women. 

As an engineer, Darden spent over two decades studying sonic boom, the sound created when an object, in this case a spacecraft, travels faster than the speed of sound, and how to minimize its potentially damaging effects. She became the technical expert and leader of the Sonic Boom Group, the team responsible for sonic boom research at NASA.

The brilliance and accomplishments of these women are a clear example that young girls can excel in math just as well as young boys if given the freedom and encouragement to foster their interests. Their stories can serve as a reminder that the study of math can truly be a gateway to various opportunities and show that even the sky is not the limit!

We are excited to help you develop the next generation of mathematicians here at Mathnasium. Whether online or in person, we provide specialized individual instruction for children in grades 2 through 12. Give us a call today or reach out to us online to schedule your child's free assessment. We look forward to connecting with you and your child.