Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars

Description

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. Contents Preface January 1958: Launch Day PART I: 1940s 1 Up, Up, and Away 2 Headed West PART Il: 1950s 3 Rockets Rising 4 Miss Guided Missile 5 Holding Back 6 Ninety Days and Ninety Minutes 7 Moonglow PART III: 1960s 8 Analog Overlords 9 Planetary Pull 10 The Last Queen of Outer Space PART IV: 1970s—TODAY 11 Men Are from Mars 12 Look Like a Girl Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Index About the Author