Hidden Figures of Space Race Awarded Congressional Medals

The pioneering women of the space race, prominently featured in Hidden Figures, received Congress' highest recognition on Wednesday. The families of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal at the US Capitol. Darden joined the ceremony virtually from her home in Connecticut.

A medal was also awarded to all the women who contributed as mathematicians, engineers, and "human computers" in the US space program from the 1930s to the 1970s. Author Margot Lee Shetterly, whose book Hidden Figures later became a celebrated film, stated, "By honoring them, we honor the very best of our country's spirit." The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's forerunner, hired hundreds of women, including Black women who worked in segregated units at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia.

Johnson's critical calculations were pivotal for John Glenn's 1962 orbit around Earth, earning her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Vaughan broke barriers as NASA's first Black supervisor, and Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer. Darden is acclaimed for her contributions to sonic boom research. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)