About this book:

Discover the brilliant women whose calculations, code, and engineering propelled America’s journey to the stars—yet whose names have long lingered in the shadows of history. *The Forgotten Women of the Space Race* unveils the untold stories of the human computers, programmers, and engineers at NASA who, armed with slide rules, pencils, and unyielding determination, made every Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo mission possible. From Katherine Johnson’s trajectory‑verifying math that gave John Glenn confidence to orbit, to Dorothy Vaughan’s leadership of the West Area Computers, Mary Jackson’s breakthrough as NASA’s first African‑American female engineer, Margaret Hamilton’s pioneering Apollo software, and Poppy Northcutt’s historic presence in Mission Control, this book brings their indispensable contributions to life.

Through meticulous archival research, vivid oral histories, and compelling narrative, the book not only celebrates their technical genius but also explores the formidable barriers of gender and race they overcame, the delicate balance of career and family, and their lasting influence on STEM today. Each chapter reveals how these women transformed raw data into the precise trajectories, software, and systems that launched humanity beyond Earth—proving that the Space Race was truly a triumph of diverse intellect and perseverance.

Let *The Forgotten Women of the Space Race* inspire you to remember, honor, and share the legacy of these extraordinary pioneers. Their stories are a powerful reminder that every great leap forward rests on the unseen efforts of countless brilliant minds—now finally given the voice they deserve.