Jeanette Scissum joined NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in 1964 after earning bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics from Alabama A&M University. Scissum published a NASA report in 1967, “Survey of Solar Cycle Prediction Models,” which put forward techniques for improved forecasting of the sunspot cycle. In the mid-1970s she worked as a space scientist in the Space Environment Branch of Marshall’s Space Sciences Laboratory and later led activities in Marshall’s Atmospheric, Magnetospheric, and Plasmas in Space project.
In 1975, Scissum wrote an article for the National Technical Association, “Equal Employment Opportunity and the Supervisor – A Counselor’s View,” which argued that many discrimination complaints could be avoided “through adequate and meaningful communication.” Scissum later worked at NASA Headquarters as a computer systems analyst responsible for analyzing and directing NASA management information and technical support systems.
Image credit: NASA/MSFC
NASA: Jeanette A. Scissum, Scientist and Mathematician at NASA Marshall
In 1964, most women didn't get an even break and a black woman had no chance whatsoever yet Ms Scissum came into NASA at a high level. There was a lot of vile, racist behavior taking place in America but some places have always seen the light.
6 comments:
I suggest the movie Hidden Figures
And the book Hidden Human Computers
The precursors to Ms Scissum.
They had to work in the segregated areas
Fair enough and I appreciate that update. Nevertheless, this placement was vastly better than most of what we saw in the Sixties and I remember it. There was lots of loud protests for civil rights and I applaud all of that but people like Ms Scissum were doing in quietly and in their own way. That NASA even gave her the option back then is unusual to me.
I was just pointing out she wasnt the first or the only black woman in NASA.
NASA wanted minds and didnt care what color skin covered them.
They still followed the racist rules of the time though
Agreed to a point but a lot of racism would have kept her out of there in the first place so I see NASA as progressive in that regard.
NASA had a pool of all women "human comouters" back in the beginning in tne late fifties. At first it was a segregated offices. It was desegrated a few years after Brown vs Board of Education.
So her accomplishments are massive she was not one of the forerunners as black women had been involved in NASA at high positions for 8 to 10 years by the time she arrived
I think Katherine Johnson was the first but she was hired in NACA before NASA was formed
Her accolades are longer than my fingers can type. But she was a critical part of the Apollo program.
Hidden Figures is an eye opening movie. I never knew any of this prior to the movie. The book details tje progression in far more depth.
In a time where these women would be require to drink from seperate drinking fountains, they were doing the calculations to begin the space program.
That's excellent stuff. Thank you.
That last line kind of says it all.
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