On September 18, 2024, a significant event took place at the U.S. Capitol, honoring the unsung heroes of America's space race. The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, was presented to the families of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden. These women, along with numerous others, played pivotal roles as mathematicians, engineers, and "human computers" in the U.S. space program from the 1930s to the 1970s.
The ceremony recognized the contributions of these pioneering women who worked at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. Their work was instrumental in various space missions, including John Glenn's historic orbit around Earth in 1962. Katherine Johnson's hand-written calculations were crucial for this mission's success, as well as for the Mercury and Apollo programs.
Dorothy Vaughan made history as NASA's first African American supervisor and later became an expert FORTRAN programmer. Mary Jackson broke barriers as NASA's first African American female engineer, specializing in analyzing data from wind tunnel and aircraft flight experiments. Christine Darden, who observed the ceremony from her home in Connecticut, is renowned for her significant contributions to supersonic flight research and sonic boom minimization.
These women worked in a segregated unit known as the "West Area Computers" at what is now NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia. Established in 1917, Langley is NASA's oldest field center and played a crucial role in the early days of space exploration.
"By honoring them, we honor the very best of our country's spirit."
The story of these remarkable women gained widespread recognition through Margot Lee Shetterly's book "Hidden Figures," which was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film in 2016. The book and film shed light on the challenges these women faced and their invaluable contributions to the space program.
It's worth noting that Katherine Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President Barack Obama in 2015. This award, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, further underscores the significance of her work.
The Congressional Gold Medal ceremony not only honored specific individuals but also recognized all women who worked as mathematicians and engineers in the U.S. space program during this era. Their collective efforts were instrumental in advancing America's space exploration goals and breaking down barriers in science and technology fields.
As we reflect on these achievements, it's important to acknowledge the ongoing support for scientific research and education. Organizations like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute continue to play a crucial role in funding biological and medical research, ensuring that the spirit of innovation and discovery exemplified by these hidden figures lives on.