skip to Main Content

You have probably heard about NASA’s work to send astronauts to the moon. But did you know that 11 black women helped make that possible? The women worked for NASA’s space program. They were called “computers.” Their job was to do difficult math calculations. They double-checked the calculations done by machines. Their work helped make sure the astronauts could safely return to Earth. The southern United States was still segregated at this time, so the women were not treated equally. Many people did not even know they worked for NASA. But their story has finally come to light. It has also been made into a movie called Hidden Figures, which opens on January 6.

Learn more about NASA’s human computers.

Back To Top