Tells the gripping story of four female African-American mathematicians who literally made it possible to launch US rockets--and astronauts--into space. Tells the thrilling tale of how each woman contributed, the struggles and resistance each experienced, and the amazing results. Consultants currently works for NASA.

At a time when segregation was still the law of the land and everyone knew girls didn't dream of science careers, African-American mathematicians performed the critical calculations that allowed America to reach for outer space. In this book from the Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction series, young readers will learn about how these women broke both racial and sex barriers to become a key part of NASA's development. Then, they'll learn how women working at NASA today feel about the space agency's efforts to increase diversity — and what they hope for the future. with its narrative tone full of existing twists and turns, this is a compelling look at the women who helped our astronauts take flight.