White Ceramic Mug (Mary W. Jackson)

Mary W. Jackson (April 9, 1921 – February 11, 2005) was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer. She made significant contributions to NASA and broke barriers of segregation and gender bias. Here are some key points about her remarkable life:

NASA Pioneer:

In 1958, Mary became the first African American female engineer to work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Her journey to an engineering career at NASA was not straightforward. She held various positions before joining the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1951.
Initially, she worked in the segregated West Area Computing section, reporting to supervisor Dorothy Vaughan.

Mary’s determination led her to hands-on experimental work in the 4’ x 4’ Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, where she conducted experiments related to supersonic speeds. Engineering

Breakthroughs:

Mary received an offer to work for engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki in the supersonic tunnel.
She completed graduate-level math and physics courses to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer.

In 1958, she became NASA’s first black female engineer.
Mary co-authored her first research report that year: “Effects of Nose Angle and Mach Number on Transition on Cones at Supersonic Speeds.”

Advocacy and Legacy:

Mary actively worked to improve hiring practices for women at NASA.  She believed in inspiring young minds and helped science club members build their own wind tunnel.

Her dedication to science and equal opportunities left a lasting impact. Mary W. Jackson’s story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking down barriers. 🚀