The NASA women who inspired the film “Hidden Figures” will soon be honored with Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian award in the United States. Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were pivotal figures during the Space Race. Their contributions, alongside other African American women in NASA’s West Area Computing Unit, were crucial to the early successes of America’s space endeavors.
Legislation Signed into Law
On November 8, a bipartisan bill known as the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law. It was co-sponsored by notable figures like Senators Kamala Harris, Chris Coons, and Lisa Murkowski, as well as Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson and Frank Lucas. This legislation recognizes Johnson’s work as a mathematician and Darden’s achievements as an aeronautical engineer, while Vaughan and Jackson will receive their medals posthumously—Vaughan passed in 2008 and Jackson in 2005. Additionally, one gold medal will be awarded to honor all women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics between the 1930s and 1970s.
Remarkable Stories
Their remarkable stories were famously captured in Margot Lee Shetterly’s 2016 biography, “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race,” which was later adapted into a film. The bill emphasizes the significant roles these women played in aircraft testing during World War II, supersonic research, and the Voyager missions, culminating in the historic lunar landing.
Recognition and Inspiration
Harris remarked that the achievements of these four women and their peers have long been overshadowed. She expressed pride in the passage of the bill, highlighting how their legacies serve as inspiration for Black women across the nation. The Girl Scouts organization also voiced support, with CEO Sylvia Acevedo noting that these trailblazing women have inspired countless girls and women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Their contributions to NASA, although overlooked for years, are finally being recognized.
Further Reading
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Conclusion
In summary, the Congressional Gold Medals awarded to Johnson, Darden, Vaughan, and Jackson celebrate the vital contributions of these women to NASA and the broader narrative of American history, recognizing their roles in shaping the future of space exploration.