Joan Berkowitz
American chemist who worked on materials for the space program, reusable molds for spacecraft construction built from molybdenum disilicides and tungsten disilicides, and the disposal and treatment of hazardous wastes.
Category Archives: Aeronautics
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Margaret Hamilton
American computer scientist, systems engineer, and business owner; director of MIT Instrumentation Laboratory’s Software Engineering Division, a crucial role in developing onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo program.
Mary Golda Ross
First known Native American female engineer and pioneering female engineer at Lockheed.
Dr Mary Ellen Weber
Dr. Mary Ellen Weber was selected by NASA in the 14th group of astronauts in 1992. She served on two shuttle missions.
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was an African-American mathematician who made contributions to NASA’s space programmme. She was featured in the 2017 film Hidden figures.
Dr Mae Jemison
As a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison has always reached for the stars. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space.
Sally Ride
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. She made her journey into history on June 18, 1983. Throughout her life, Dr. Ride broke barriers and worked to ensure that girls and women were encouraged to do the same.
Sarah Al Amiri
Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri is the Emirati Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, chair of the UAE Space Agency and the United Arab Emirates Council of Scientists, and Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, Hope. She began her career at the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, where she worked on satellite projects DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2. She joined the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment before later taking on a senior role at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In 2016 she was appointed the head of the Emirates Science Council.
In November 2017 Amiri became the first Emirati to speak at an international TED event when she spoke in Louisiana about the Hope Mars Mission. The mission launched in July 2020, scheduled to reach Mars in 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates’ independence.
In October 2017 Amiri was named Minister of State for Advanced Sciences in the United Arab Emirates Cabinet. To increase global scientific collaboration, Al Amiri toured US scientific institutions in November 2017.
Beatrice Hicks
Beatrice Alice Hicks was the first woman engineer to be hired by Western Electric, and co-founder and first president of the Society of Women Engineers. Despite starting her career at a time when engineering was seen as inappropriate choice for women, Hicks held various leadership positions and eventually became the owner of an engineering firm. Hicks also developed a gas density switch that would be used by NASA, including the Apollo moon landing missions.
Kitty O’Brien Joyner
Kitty O’Brien Joyner joined the NACA, the precursor to NASA, in 1939 as an electrical engineer after graduating from the University of Virginia (UVA). She was the first woman to graduate from UVA’s engineering program and the NACA’s first female engineer. Joyner spent her career working in and managing wind tunnels and supersonic flight research.