NASA Segregation: How One Group of Women Challenged the Norm

NASA Segregation: How One Group of Women Challenged the Norm

What can NASA segregation tell us about the rest of the country during the Civil Rights Movement? What can we learn from Hidden Figures segregation and the fight for equality? NASA segregation reflected the segregation of the rest of the country. But when the president ordered NASA (then NACA) to tap into the large workforce they were ignoring, women like Dorothy Vaughan and Katherine Johnson got the chance to prove themselves. Read how the women of Hidden Figures helped end segregation in NASA.

How Mary Jackson, NASA Engineer, Changed the World

How Mary Jackson, NASA Engineer, Changed the World

Who is Mary Jackson in Hidden Figures, and what were her contributions to NASA? Mary Jackson was an American aerospace engineer who worked for NACA (before it became NASA) in 1951. Native to the Hampton Roads area, where Langley Research Center was located, Jackson broke barriers by becoming NASA’s first black female engineer. But what did Mary Jackson do at NASA? For Mary Jackson, NASA was a dream job and a challenge. Learn more about Mary Jackson’s contributions and career.

NASA Cold War History: How the Era Transformed America

NASA Cold War History: How the Era Transformed America

What were the main NASA Cold War activities, and what happened at NASA during the Cold War? Why was space travel so important? NASA during the Cold War focused relentlessly on getting to the moon. NASA Cold War activities, particularly following the Soviet launch of Sputnik, revolved around tirelessly trying to make scientific discoveries and proving American excellence. See how NASA Cold War history defined the US for generations.

Langley Aeronautical Labs: Where the Space Race Began

rocket

What is Langley Aeronautical Memorial Laboratory, and what is its significance? In Hidden Figures, Langley is the workplace of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, the three women who are credited with helping break through color barriers in science, and who made substantial contributions to space exploration and science. Read about Langley Aeronautical Memorial Laboratory and the experiences of the women in Hidden Figures.

Dorothy Vaughan: NASA “Computer” Who Paved the Way for Women

Dorothy Vaughan: NASA “Computer” Who Paved the Way for Women

Who is Dorothy Vaughan in Hidden Figures? How did Dorothy Vaughan, NASA West Computer and later manager, ascend the ranks and contribute to science? Dorothy Vaughan was one of the first black women to join NACA (later NASA). She was a pioneer of her time and was instrumental in jumpstarting the careers of other legendary women of NASA, including Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson. Read how Dorothy Vaughan, NASA legend, carved out new opportunities for black women in science and rose through the ranks of one of the world’s most prestigious organizations.

Ralston Purina: History, Merger, and a Winning Strategy

Ralston Purina: History, Merger, and a Winning Strategy

What was Ralston Purina company, and what made the company so successful leading up to the 2001 Nestle merger? Ralston Purina and its most successful CEO, Bill Stiritz, stuck to unconventional but effective methods of financial management and acquisitions. Ralston Purina was known for it’s analytical, data-driven approach and a strict policy to follow the numbers. This unconventional method clearly led to a big payoff.

The Washington Post’s History: The Power of a Visionary CEO

The Washington Post’s History: The Power of a Visionary CEO

What makes a newspaper successful? How does the Washington Post’s history prove that a publication can succeed both as a business, and for its journalistic merit? The Washington Post’s history was mostly spent as a local newspaper, and Graham sought a way to grow the company, while increasing its journalistic prestige. During her time as CEO, Graham was able to do both, by focusing on the business and hiring the best people to get the job done.

Brothers to the Rescue—The Shootdown, and the Spy It Exposed

Brothers to the Rescue—The Shootdown, and the Spy It Exposed

Who were Brothers to the Rescue (Hermanos al Rescate)? Why were their planes shot down in 1996, and why was this such a disaster for America on the whole? Brothers to the Rescue was a group of American immigrants with the mission to save Cuban lives and incite revolt against Fidel Castro’s regime. Also known as Hermanos al Rescate, they would fly planes into Cuban airspace to make rescues. We’ll cover why two of these planes were shot down, and why the event revealed something surprising about someone working for the CIA.