Mary Jackson Wiki: Facts, Death, Family, Husband, Education, Kids



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Mary Jackson (née Goode; April 9, 1921 – February 11, 2005) was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She worked on the development of the space shuttle program and was the first African-American woman to serve as an engineer at NASA.

Born in Hampton, Virginia, Jackson was one of seven children. Her father, Samuel L. Goode, was a professor at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), and her mother, Ella Goode, was a schoolteacher. Jackson’s parents encouraged her to pursue her education, and she attended Hampton Institute, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physical science in 1942.

Jackson began her career as a math teacher in Maryland before moving to Washington, D.C., to work as a secretary at the United States Department of the Interior. In 1951, she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. At NASA, Jackson worked as a human computer, performing calculations by hand to support the development of the space shuttle program. She also co-authored a research paper on the thermal protection system used on the space shuttle.

In 1979, Jackson was promoted to engineer, becoming the first African-American woman to hold that title at NASA. She continued to work on the space shuttle program until her retirement in 1985.

After retiring from NASA, Jackson remained active in the engineering community, serving on the boards of several professional organizations. She also mentored young women interested in engineering careers.

Jackson died in 2005 at the age of 83. In 2016, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia