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Embark on a riveting journey through the hidden corridors of history, where the ambitions of brilliant women crossed paths with the stars. These unsung heroines—scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and visionaries—worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help forge a legacy that would alter the course of humankind.
As the world’s great superpowers raced in a Cold War competition to conquer the cosmos, countless women worked behind the scenes virtually unrecognized. This compelling narrative illuminates the lives of these extraordinary women who navigated the challenges of a male-dominated landscape, defied societal expectations, and helped push the boundaries of science and technology. Their courage and intellect helped propel rockets into the void and sparked transformative shifts in society, inspiring generations to dream fearlessly.
Beyond the Launchpad: The Unsung Women of the Space Race is not just a celebration of female empowerment; it is an awakening to the realization that the quest for knowledge and advancement is a shared journey, illuminated by the resilient spirit of those who dared to reach for the stars.
Joe Cuhaj is a Navy veteran, and former radio broadcaster turned author and freelance writer. He began his radio career just outside of New York City in 1980 in Long Branch, NJ, and continued in the field when he moved to Mobile, Alabama in 1981.
Joe's first book, Hike America Alabama (later renamed Hiking Alabama) was released in 2000 after he was approached by Globe Pequot Press to write a hiking guide to the state. The book is now in its fifth edition and was the first of 13 outdoor guides Joe has authored for Globe. Since then, has written seven non-fiction history books for Prometheus and History Press and is currently working on a new cozy mystery series.
Introduction
Part I: Before There Was a Space Race
1. Before There Was NASA, There Was NACA
2. Setting the Standards, and Raising Hell – Pearl Young
3. It Took Determination, and a Lawsuit – Kitty O’Brien Joyner
4. From Top Secret Aircraft to Rockets – Mary Gold Ross
5. The Most Important Woman in Space Science – Dorothy Simon
Part II: The Dawn of the Space Age
6. The Birth of NASA
7. Only the Best to Work with the Best – Mary Sherman Morgan & Joyce Neighbors
8. The Agency’s First Human Computers – Virginia Tucker & Vera Huckel
9. Ushering in The Hidden Figures – Dorothy Vaughn
10. The Hidden Figures of the West Area Computing Group
Part III: Let’s Stop This Now!
11. The First of the First Ladies—Ruth Nichols & Betty Skelton
12. The First Ladies Astronaut Trainees (Mercury 13)
13. The Women’s Brigade
14. The Original Six
Part IV: Behind the Scenes
15. It Takes All Types
16. The First—And Only—Women in the Room – JoAnn Morgan & Poppy Northcutt
17. A Multi-Talented Multi-Tasker…and Jack Black’s Mother – Judith Love Cohen
18. They Were Afraid the Men Would Rebel – Margaret Hamilton
19. The Supporting Cast
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Author