How do women play a role in NASA? 

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an American federal agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Over the years, NASA has employed many talented and skilled women who have made significant contributions to the field of space exploration. In this essay, we will delve into the history of women at NASA, highlighting some of the most notable women who have played a role in the agency's achievements.

The Early Years of Women at NASA

Women began working at NASA in the 1940s when the agency was still in its infancy. During World War II, many women worked as "computers" - individuals who performed mathematical calculations manually. NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), also employed a large number of women as computers. These women were highly skilled and made significant contributions to aeronautical research.

One of the most notable women in NACA's history was Katherine Johnson. Johnson began working as a computer at NACA in 1953 and later joined NASA when the agency was formed in 1958. Johnson's mathematical abilities were so impressive that she was called upon to calculate trajectories for the first American manned space flight. She went on to work on many other important NASA missions, including the Apollo moon landing.

Other women who worked at NACA during the 1940s and 1950s include Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden. These women were also highly skilled and made significant contributions to NASA's research efforts. Vaughan, for example, was the first African American supervisor at NACA, and Jackson was the agency's first African American female engineer.

The Space Race and Women at NASA

In the 1960s, NASA became heavily involved in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. During this time, the agency employed a large number of women to support its efforts. Some of the most notable women from this period include:

Valentina Tereshkova: Although not an employee of NASA, Tereshkova was the first woman to travel to space. She flew aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft in 1963 as part of the Soviet Union's space program.

Jerrie Cobb: Cobb was a pilot who underwent the same physical and psychological tests as the Mercury astronauts in the early 1960s. Despite performing as well as her male counterparts, Cobb was never selected to fly in space due to her gender.

Sally Ride: Ride became the first American woman to travel to space when she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. She later went on to work at NASA, serving as a member of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Challenger disaster in 1986.

Roberta Bondar: Bondar became the first Canadian woman to travel to space when she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1992. She conducted experiments in space related to the human nervous system and vision.

Women in Leadership Positions at NASA

In addition to the many women who have made important contributions to NASA's research efforts over the years, there have also been women in leadership positions at the agency. Some of the most notable women in leadership positions include:

Lori Garver: Garver served as NASA's Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013. She was responsible for overseeing the agency's human spaceflight programs and played a key role in the development of the Commercial Crew Program, which aims to use private spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Ellen Ochoa: Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to travel to space when she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993. She later served as the Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, overseeing the agency's human.