In the midst of the space race, four trailblazing Black women - Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden - played a crucial role in launching America into space. These mathematicians and engineers, known as the "Hidden Figures," overcame the dual barriers of racism and sexism to make groundbreaking contributions to NASA's work from 1930 to 1970. Their work was the foundation upon which America's space exploration was built.

Before the world was ready to recognize them, these women were the backbone of NASA's computing department, calculating rocket trajectories and orbits that put men on the moon. Their work was invisible, but their impact was anything but. They were the unsung heroes of the space race, working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the impossible possible.

On September 18, the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony took place on Capitol Hill, honoring these remarkable women for their pivotal roles in NASA's achievements. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States, and the ceremony marked a long-overdue recognition of their contributions.

Breaking Barriers: The Unseen Heroes of NASA's Space Exploration

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