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THE RISE OF THE ROCKET GIRLS!

Jacket cover: RISE OF THE ROCKET GIRLS

With a major political party in the United States finally nominating a woman to run for President--truly a history-making development--I thought it would be good to explore some of the contributions made by women to our Space Program.

One of the great, untold stories of the post-war era is about the remarkable group of women who “propelled us” into space.  A wonderful new book by Nathalia Holt (published in April 2016), titled RISE OF THE ROCKET GIRLS, is a terrific place to begin your exploration.  Divided into four sections that focus on the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s to the present, the book focuses on the fortunes (and misfortunes) of four particular women (though others--like Barby Canright, Marcie Roberts, and Janez Lawson--are mentioned and explored more briefly):  Barbara Paulson, Helen Ling, Susan Finley, and Sylvia Miller.

Here’s a portion of the liner notes:

“In the 1940s and 50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn't turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an elite group of young women who, with only pencil, paper, and mathematical prowess, transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible. . .. For the first time, Rise of the Rocket Girls tells the stories of these women--known as "human computers"--who broke the boundaries of both gender and science. Based on extensive research and interviews with all the living members of the team, Rise of the Rocket Girls offers a unique perspective on the role of women in science: both where we've been, and the far reaches of space to which we're heading.” © 2016 Little, Brown and Co.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Rocket-Girls-Propelled-Missiles/dp/0316338923?ie=UTF8&keywords=rise%20of%20the%20rocket%20girls&qid=1465323511&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1


The early women at NASA. "The Human Computers."

AN OVERVIEW:  Here are articles and transcripts that give lovely overviews of the “Rocket Girls.”

 

Jet Propulsion Labs:  http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=1327

 

National Public Radio:  http://www.npr.org/2016/04/05/473099967/meet-the-rocket-girls-the-women-who-charted-the-course-to-space

 

POPULAR SCIENCE MAGAZINE:  http://www.popsci.com/meet-amazing-women-who-launched-americas-first-rockets

 

SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nasas-rocket-girls-are-no-longer-forgotten-history-180958791/?no-ist

 

THINK PROGRESS:   http://thinkprogress.org/culture/2016/05/19/3779620/the-forgotten-rocket-girls-of-nasa/



Dr. Sue Finley
Dr. Sue Finley

Here are sites that focus on two of the “Rocket Girls”:

 

SUSAN FINLEY:  Sue Finley has been an employee of NASA’s JET PROPULSION LABORATORY (JPL) since January of 1958, making her the longest-serving woman in NASA. Two days before EXPLORER 1 was launched, Finley began her career with the laboratory as a so-called human computer, calculating rocket launch trajectories by hand. She now serves as a subsystem engineer for NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN).  At JPL, she has participated in the exploration of the Moon, the Sun, all the planets and other bodies in the Solar System. © Wikipedia

 

A Wikipedia entry devoted to Susan Finley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_G._Finley

 

A short interview with Finley made by JPL and now available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4QF570F5hs

 

A solid article on NASA’s website about their 50-year employees includes a solid section on Finley (with photo) in the portion about JPL; you’ll have to scroll down the page after a few other (equally interesting) biographies.  Of course, what stands out is that she’s the only woman among the group of a dozen or so scientists: http://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/50yearsEmployees.html

 

 

SYLVIA MILLER:  Sylvia Miller joined JPL in 1968 and has worked on advanced planning for future Mars missions since 1995. She is currently the program manager for Mars Advanced Sub-Surface Access. She received NASA's Exceptional Service Medal for her work on IRAS.

 

A Los Angeles Times article that focuses on Sylvia Miller: http://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/community/tn-gnp-me-0406-rocketgirls-20160405-story.html

 


Flight plan to the moon
BARBARA PAULSON, VICKIE WANG, HELEN LING

TWO MORE!

 

I have to add two more remarkable women to the group.  One is Nancy Roman.  The other is Mary Sherman Morgan.

 

MARY SHERMAN MORGAN:  Mary Sherman Morgan (November 4, 1921 – August 4, 2004) was a U.S. rocket fuel scientist credited with the invention of the liquid fuel Hydyne in 1957, which powered the Jupiter-C rocket that boosted the United States' first satellite, Explorer 1

 

WIKIPEDIA:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sherman_Morgan

 

A fine story about how Morgan’s son restored his mother’s long lost legacy:  http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/rocket-girl-son-restores-mothers-lost-legacy-americas-first-female-rocket-scientist/

 

The book written by Morgan’s son: http://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Girl-Sherman-Americas-Scientist/dp/1616147393?ie=UTF8&keywords=rocket%20girl%20george%20morgan&qid=1465332744&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

 --------

 

NANCY ROMAN:  At age 91, Nancy Roman is still going strong.  She’s an American astronomer who was one of the first female executives at NASA. She is known to many as the "Mother of Hubble" for her role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope. Throughout her career, Roman has also been an active public speaker and educator, and an advocate for women in the sciences.  Here are other web links about her:

 

NASA’s website has a full-page interview with Roman.  A great read: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/people/romann

 

Here’s a wonderful article written by Roman for the June 2013 edition of the magazine ASTRONOMY BEAT:  https://www.astrosociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ab2013-112.pdf

 

In 2011, The Voice of America had a lovely presentation about Roman as “The Mother of Hubble”:  http://www.voanews.com/content/mother-of-hubble-always-aimed-for-stars--127751383/163252.html


Sylvia Miller
Dr. Nancy Roman


CONTACT:  MakingWings@gmail.com