Mary Jackson (1921-2005) was a pioneering African American aerospace engineer at NASA during the mid-20th century. She was one of the first black women to work at NASA and the first black woman to become an engineer at the agency. Jackson was a member of a small group of African American women who worked as human computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, breaking barriers for women and people of color in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Jackson’s story and her contributions to NASA, along with her colleagues Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan, were brought to light in the 2016 book “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly and the subsequent film adaptation, which has helped to honor and recognize the significant work of these remarkable women.
Mary Jackson’s work at NASA involved conducting research and experiments to help improve the United States’ aeronautics and space programs. Her work, as well as that of her colleagues, was vital to the success of early space missions, including those that led to Americans landing on the moon.
In June 2020, NASA announced that its headquarters in Washington, D.C., would be named after Mary W. Jackson, honoring her legacy and impact on the field of aerospace engineering. This honor reflects the significant and often unheralded contributions she made to the United States’ space program.
