During the 1950s and 1960s the space race was a very vital part of the Cold War. After Sputnik was successfully launched by the Soviets, the United States federal government allocated large sums of money to advance space travel technology. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was conceived in 1958 from the previous NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) as an independent agency of the United States Federal Government. NASA was responsible for the civilian space program, as well as continual advancement of aeronautics and aerospace research.

During this time three women broke through massive employment barriers in the fields of mathematics and computer science. These women defied expectations and broke barriers for both women and African Americans creating momentum for change in the field of aeronautics.

Students will explore the life of each of these women and identify and analyze their key contributions to the field of aeronautics.