First published 2016
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory faced a critical need for mathematicians who could quickly calculate velocities and plot rocket trajectories. Instead of hiring male graduates, they recruited a select group of young women. Armed with pencils, paper, and exceptional mathematical skills, these "human computers" revolutionized rocket design and enabled America's first satellites. Their calculations made solar system exploration possible. Nathalia Holt conducted extensive research and interviewed surviving team members to tell their stories. The book examines how these women shattered barriers in both gender and science. Holt provides a distinctive view of women's contributions to scientific advancement, showing both historical achievements and future possibilities in space exploration.
Genres: biography, science, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, history-of-science, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, inspirational
Setting: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Period: 1940s, 1950s
338 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company