CHARACTERS IN CHARACTERS IN RISE OF THE ROCKETS GIRLS RISE OF THE ROCKETS GIRLS The Suicide Squad The Suicide Squad Reckless, eccentric group of rocketry experimenters Reckless, eccentric group of rocketry experimenters on California Instute of Technology campus in the 1930s, on California Instute of Technology campus in the 1930s, core of what became the Jet Propulsion Laboratory core of what became the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Barbara “Barby” Canright – first woman on pre‐JPL team; Barbara “Barby” Canright – first woman on pre‐JPL team; first computer first computer Ed Forman – the machinist of the group; Jack’s friend since Ed Forman – the machinist of the group; Jack’s friend since junior high junior high Frank Malina – Caltech student from Czechoslovakia; made Frank Malina – Caltech student from Czechoslovakia; made director of JPL in 1944; in the 1950s le as a casualty of director of JPL in 1944; in the 1950s le as a casualty of McCarthyism. McCarthyism. Hsue‐Shen Tsien – Caltech grad student; joined the group in Hsue‐Shen Tsien – Caltech grad student; joined the group in 1936, became V‐2 rocket expert in WWII; labeled a traitor 1936, became V‐2 rocket expert in WWII; labeled a traitor under McCarthyism; house arrest for 5 years, deported; be‐ under McCarthyism; house arrest for 5 years, deported; be‐ came “Father of Chinese Rocketry.” came “Father of Chinese Rocketry.” Jack Parsons – the chemist of the group; talked about sci fi Jack Parsons – the chemist of the group; talked about sci fi stories as if real; le his wife to join a bizarre, cultlike religion stories as if real; le his wife to join a bizarre, cultlike religion Richard Canright – Barby’s husband, later promoted to JPL Richard Canright – Barby’s husband, later promoted to JPL engineer engineer The Most Significant Computers The Most Significant Computers Barbara “Blip” Lewis Paulson – only girl in her math classes in Barbara “Blip” Lewis Paulson – only girl in her math classes in Ohio; trained new computers; named supervisor when Macie Ohio; trained new computers; named supervisor when Macie rered; fired while pregnant when applied for a parking rered; fired while pregnant when applied for a parking space closer to the lab; returned to JPL when daughter was space closer to the lab; returned to JPL when daughter was seven months old; given tle of engineer in late 1960s; re‐ seven months old; given tle of engineer in late 1960s; re‐ red in 1993 red in 1993 Helen Yee Chow Ling – born in Hong Kong, studied at Canton Helen Yee Chow Ling – born in Hong Kong, studied at Canton College, earned full scholarship to the University of Notre College, earned full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, art major, math minor; as talented as any of the engi‐ Dame, art major, math minor; as talented as any of the engi‐ neers; became head of the newly organized JPL computer neers; became head of the newly organized JPL computer department in 1960; given tle of engineer in late 1960s; re‐ department in 1960; given tle of engineer in late 1960s; re‐ red in 1994 red in 1994 Janez Lawson Bordeaux – UCLA graduate in chemical engi‐ Janez Lawson Bordeaux – UCLA graduate in chemical engi‐ neering; daughter of first African‐American city council mem‐ neering; daughter of first African‐American city council mem‐ ber in Santa Monica; sent to IBM training school; one of the ber in Santa Monica; sent to IBM training school; one of the first computer programmers at JPL first computer programmers at JPL Macie “Bobby” Roberts – promoted to supervisor; defined Macie “Bobby” Roberts – promoted to supervisor; defined the lab by selecng only women as computers; rered in the lab by selecng only women as computers; rered in 1959 1959 Margaret “Margie” Behrens Brunn– wanted to understand Margaret “Margie” Behrens Brunn– wanted to understand what her calculaons meant so asked quesons and “bristled what her calculaons meant so asked quesons and “bristled against authority”; le and returned among six children and against authority”; le and returned among six children and two marriages; given tle of engineer in late 1960s two marriages; given tle of engineer in late 1960s Susan Greene Finley – nave Californian, gied in math and Susan Greene Finley – nave Californian, gied in math and science; suffered depression aer newborn son died; le science; suffered depression aer newborn son died; le aer two children, returned six years later; became expert in aer two children, returned six years later; became expert in FORTRAN; divorced in 1970s; sll at JPL aer 58 years (latest FORTRAN; divorced in 1970s; sll at JPL aer 58 years (latest mission was the Juno project, which began orbing Jupiter in mission was the Juno project, which began orbing Jupiter in July 2016) July 2016) Sylvia Lundy Miller– math degree from Douglas College; Sylvia Lundy Miller– math degree from Douglas College; trained in programming at Rutgers; solved programming chal‐ trained in programming at Rutgers; solved programming chal‐ lenges to make The Grand Tour possible; rered in 2008 aer lenges to make The Grand Tour possible; rered in 2008 aer 40 years at JPL 40 years at JPL TIMELINE: The Rise of the Rocket Girls TIMELINE: The Rise of the Rocket Girls

1935 Suicide Squad nkers with rockets in the Arroyo Seco 1935 Suicide Squad nkers with rockets in the Arroyo Seco 1944 Jet Propulsion Laboratory named; Barby Canright, then Melba Nead, Free‐ 1944 Jet Propulsion Laboratory named; Barby Canright, then Melba Nead, Free‐ man Kincaid hired as computers man Kincaid hired as computers

Virginia “Ginny” Preyman and Macie “Bobby” hired Virginia “Ginny” Preyman and Macie “Bobby” hired 1949 The Corporal missile project begins at JPL 1949 The Corporal missile project begins at JPL 1950 Captured German war criminal Werner von Braun begins V‐2 rocket project 1950 Captured German war criminal Werner von Braun begins V‐2 rocket project in Alabama in Alabama

JPL begins Sergeant advanced systems missile JPL begins Sergeant advanced systems missile 1951 Marie Crowley hired as computer at JPL 1951 Marie Crowley hired as computer at JPL Janez Lawson becomes first African American woman to be hired at JPL as a Janez Lawson becomes first African American woman to be hired at JPL as a computer computer

1952 IBM 701 computer (size of an enre room and weighing over 20,000 lbs.) is 1952 IBM 701 computer (size of an enre room and weighing over 20,000 lbs.) is announced announced

The Sergeant missile explodes and kills 11 The Sergeant missile explodes and kills 11 1955 Dept. of Defense chooses Navy’s Project Vanguard over JPL’s Project Orbiter 1955 Dept. of Defense chooses Navy’s Project Vanguard over JPL’s Project Orbiter 1956 JPL begins Jupiter‐C ballisc missile project: Redstone rocket plus Baby 1956 JPL begins Jupiter‐C ballisc missile project: Redstone rocket plus Baby Sergeants Sergeants 1957 Internaonal Geophysical Year 1957 Internaonal Geophysical Year Soviets launch Sputnik; Space Race begins Soviets launch Sputnik; Space Race begins Navy’s Vanguard launch fails Navy’s Vanguard launch fails 1958 JPL launches America’s first satellite, Explorer 1 1958 JPL launches America’s first satellite, Explorer 1 Pres. Eisenhower signs Natl. Aeronaucs & Space Act: JPL transferred to Pres. Eisenhower signs Natl. Aeronaucs & Space Act: JPL transferred to NASA control NASA control

1959 Soviets launch Luna 1 spacecra into orbit; Luna 2 follows in September 1959 Soviets launch Luna 1 spacecra into orbit; Luna 2 follows in September JPL launches Pioneer 4 spacecra into orbit March 3; 7 Project Mercury JPL launches Pioneer 4 spacecra into orbit March 3; 7 Project Mercury astronauts chosen astronauts chosen

1961 Soviet Yuri Gagarin becomes first human in space 1961 Soviet Yuri Gagarin becomes first human in space American Alan Shepherd – sub‐orbit May 5 American Alan Shepherd – sub‐orbit May 5 JPL designs Ranger; failed launch in August JPL designs Ranger; failed launch in August 1962 JPL launches lunar probe Ranger 3 1962 JPL launches lunar probe Ranger 3 Mariner 1 fails in July; Mariner 2 successful Mariner 1 fails in July; Mariner 2 successful 1963 President Kennedy assassinated 1963 President Kennedy assassinated 1966 New JPL project – Surveyor lands on the moon 1966 New JPL project – Surveyor lands on the moon 1967 Astronauts Grissom, White, Chaffee die in Apollo l fire 1967 Astronauts Grissom, White, Chaffee die in Apollo l fire 1969 Mariner 6 takes pictures of Mars; Apollo 11 – launched, Neil Armstrong 1969 Mariner 6 takes pictures of Mars; Apollo 11 – launched, Neil Armstrong walks on the moon walks on the moon

Apollo 12 ‐ Charles “Pete” Conrad & Allan Bean reach the moon, retrieve Apollo 12 ‐ Charles “Pete” Conrad & Allan Bean reach the moon, retrieve pieces of Surveyor 3 pieces of Surveyor 3

th th th th 1970 50 anniversary of 19 Amendment; JPL computers officially now called 1970 50 anniversary of 19 Amendment; JPL computers officially now called engineers engineers 1971 Three cosmonauts suffocate in Soyuz 11 1971 Three cosmonauts suffocate in Soyuz 11 Microchip technology ‐ personal computers arrive Microchip technology ‐ personal computers arrive 1972 Apollo 17 – last manned lunar mission; photo The Blue Moon (Pres. Nixon 1972 Apollo 17 – last manned lunar mission; photo The Blue Moon (Pres. Nixon shuts down Apolo) shuts down Apolo)

1973 Skylab space staon approved, launched 1973 Skylab space staon approved, launched 1977 Voyagers 1 and 2 launched toward Jupiter/Saturn 1977 Voyagers 1 and 2 launched toward Jupiter/Saturn 1983 Sally Ride, 1st woman astronaut, on Challenger 1983 Sally Ride, 1st woman astronaut, on Challenger 1986 Challenger shule explodes, killing Christa McAuliffe and the enre crew 1986 Challenger shule explodes, killing Christa McAuliffe and the enre crew 1989 Galileo space shule launched; 18 Months later Sue Finley writes program 1989 Galileo space shule launched; 18 Months later Sue Finley writes program that saves the mission that saves the mission

1990 Hubble Telescope launched aboard Discovery 1990 Hubble Telescope launched aboard Discovery Magellan arrives at Venus in August Magellan arrives at Venus in August 1993 Barbara Paulson reres from JPL aer 45 years 1993 Barbara Paulson reres from JPL aer 45 years 1994 Helen Ling reres; now 15% women engineers at JPL 1994 Helen Ling reres; now 15% women engineers at JPL 1995 Galileo reaches Jupiter, relays images for 14 years 1995 Galileo reaches Jupiter, relays images for 14 years 1996 Mars Pathfinder launched with rover named Sojourner 1996 Mars Pathfinder launched with rover named Sojourner 2004 Mars program under Sylvia Miller, send Spirit and Opportunity rovers to 2004 Mars program under Sylvia Miller, send Spirit and Opportunity rovers to Mars Mars 2008 Sylvia reres from JPL aer 40 years 2008 Sylvia reres from JPL aer 40 years 2012 Curiosity rover arrives on Mars 2012 Curiosity rover arrives on Mars 2016 Sue Finley sll at JPL aer 58 years; her project Juno successfully orbits 2016 Sue Finley sll at JPL aer 58 years; her project Juno successfully orbits Jupiter since July Jupiter since July