Computer Scientist

Mathematician

Rocket
scientist

at NACA
and NASA

Annie

Annie

Easley

Easley

Annie Easley

1933 - 2011

Studies(↓) (↑)

In 1950, Easley enrolled in classes at Xavier University in New Orleans.

She continued her education while working for the agency, and in 1977, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Cleveland State University.

Highlights(↓) (↑)

She took upon herself to aid her supervisors at NASA by becoming an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor.

She was a leading member of the team which developed software for the Centaur rocket stage, and was one of the first African-Americans to work at NASA.

(Biography)(↓)

She was an African-American computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist. She worked for the Lewis Research Center (now Glenn Research Center) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). She was a leading member of the team which developed software for the Centaur rocket stage, and was one of the first African-Americans to work as a computer scientist at NASA. Annie Easley was born to Samuel Bird Easley and Mary Melvina Hoover in Birmingham, Alabama. Before the Civil Rights Movement, educational and career opportunities for African-American children were very limited. African American children were educated separately from white children, and their schools were most often inferior to white schools. Annie was fortunate in that her mother told her that she could be anything she wanted but she would have to work at it. She encouraged Annie to get a good education. From the fifth grade through high school, Annie attended Holy Family High School, and was valedictorian of her graduating class. After high school she went to Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was then an African-American Roman Catholic University, and majored in pharmacy for about two years. In 1954, she returned to Birmingham. As part of the Jim Crow laws that established and maintained racial inequality, African Americans were required to pass an onerous literacy test and pay a poll tax in order to vote. She remembers the test giver looking at her application and saying only, "You went to Xavier University. Two dollars." Subsequently, she helped other African Americans prepare for the test. In 1963, racial segregation of Birmingham's downtown merchants ended as a result of the Birmingham campaign, and in 1964, the Twenty-fourth Amendment outlawed the poll tax in Federal elections. It was not until 1965 that the Voting Rights Act eliminated the literacy test. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Cleveland for personal reasons, with the intention of continuing her studies. Unfortunately, the local university had ended its pharmacy program a short time before and no nearby alternative existed. Throughout the 1970s, Easley advocated for and encouraged female and minority students at college career days to work in STEM careers. In 1955, she read a story in a local newspaper about twin sisters who worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) as "computers". She applied for a job the next day, and was hired two weeks later - one of four African Americans of about 2500 employees. She began her career as a mathematician and computer engineer at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory (which became NASA Lewis Research Center, 1958–1999, and subsequently the John H. Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, Ohio. She continued her education while working for the agency, and in 1977, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Cleveland State University. As part of a continuing education, Easley worked through specialization courses offered by NASA. Her 34-year career included developing and implementing computer code that analyzed alternative power technologies, supported the Centaur high-energy upper rocket stage, determined solar, wind and energy projects, identified energy conversion systems and alternative systems to solve energy problems.[5] Her energy assignments included studies to determine the life use of storage batteries, such as those used in electric utility vehicles. Her computer applications have been used to identify energy conversion systems that offer the improvement over commercially available technologies. She retired in 1989 (some sources say 1991). Easley's work with the Centaur project helped lay the technological foundations for future space shuttle launches and launches of communication, military and weather satellites. Her work contributed to the 1997 flight to Saturn of the Cassini probe, the launcher of which had the Centaur as its upper stage. Annie Easley was interviewed in Cleveland, on August 21, 2001 by Sandra Johnson. The interview is stored in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center Oral History Program. The 55 page interview transcript includes material on the history of the Civil Rights Movement, Glenn Research Center, Johnson Space Center, space flight, and the contribution of women to space flight.

Annie Easley

Annie Easley

(NACA)(↓)

Easley had never heard of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) when she read an article about twin sisters who were “human computers” at the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. The Lab (the predecessor of the NASA Glenn Research Center) was in need of people with strong math skills, and she was in need of a job after recently relocating from Birmingham, Alabama. Two weeks after reading the article, Easley began a career that would span 34 years. She would contribute to numerous programs as a computer scientist, inspire many through her enthusiastic participation in outreach programs, break down barriers for women and people of color in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM) fields, and win the admiration and respect of her coworkers.
In 1955, Easley began her career as a “human computer,” doing computations for researchers. This involved analyzing problems and doing calculations by hand. Her earliest work involved running simulations for the newly planned Plum Brook Reactor Facility. When hired, she was one of only four African-American employees at the Lab. In a 2001 interview she said that she had never set out to be a pioneer. “I just have my own attitude. I’m out here to get the job done, and I knew I had the ability to do it, and that’s where my focus was.” Even in the face of discrimination, she persevered. “My head is not in the sand. But my thing is, if I can’t work with you, I will work around you. I was not about to be [so] discouraged that I’d walk away. That may be a solution for some people, but it’s not mine.” When human computers were replaced by machines, Easley evolved along with the technology. She became an adept computer programmer, using languages like the Formula Translating System (Fortran) and the Symbolic Optimal Assembly Program (SOAP) to support a number of NASA’s programs. She developed and implemented code used in researching energy-conversion systems, analyzing alternative power technology—including the battery technology that was used for early hybrid vehicles, as well as for the Centaur upper-stage rocket. In the 1970s, Easley returned to school to earn her degree in mathematics from Cleveland State, doing much of her coursework while also working full time. A firm believer in education and in her mother’s advice “You can be anything you want to be, but you have to work at it,” Easley was very dedicated in her outreach efforts at NASA. She not only participated in school tutoring programs but was a very active participant in the speaker’s bureau—telling students about NASA’s work and inspiring especially female and minority students to consider STEM careers. Later in her career, she took on the additional role of equal employment opportunity (EEO) counselor. In this role she helped supervisors address issues of gender, race, and age in discrimination complaints at the lowest level and in the most cooperative way possible. Less formally, she helped pave the way for women’s rights at the center when she and her room supervisor made a pact to wear pantsuits the following day. Again, from her 2001 interview, “…it did cause quite a stir, but there was one woman who said, ‘I was just waiting for the first one to wear pants.’ You know, we took the emphasis off [of] what you’re wearing. It’s more like what you’re actually producing.” A Lewis News article quoted one of Easley’s coworkers as saying, “She loves life and encourages others to do the same.” In addition to her technical and outreach activities, Easley was a champion of employee morale. She was a founding member of the Ski Club and was very active in the annual children’s Christmas play, Center athletics, and the Business & Professional Women’s association. Easley would humbly state that she never set out to be a role model or trailblazer. Many who knew her would say that it was not just the work that she did that made a difference; it was her energy and positive attitude that had a tremendous impact on the center. In the 35-page transcript of her 2001 NASA oral history interview, Easley consistently emphasizes the importance of teamwork and expresses appreciation and admiration for those she worked with. There are many illustrations throughout her career of her determination and discipline, kindness, and generosity. Easley retired in 1989, but she remained an active participant in the Speaker’s Bureau and the Business & Professional Women’s association. Annie Easley passed away on June 25, 2011.career as a “human computer,” doing computations for researchers. This involved analyzing problems and doing calculations by hand. Her earliest work involved running simulations for the newly planned Plum Brook Reactor Facility. When hired, she was one of only four African-American employees at the Lab. In a 2001 interview she said that she had never set out to be a pioneer. “I just have my own attitude. I’m out here to get the job done, and I knew I had the ability to do it, and that’s where my focus was.” Even in the face of discrimination, she persevered. “My head is not in the sand. But my thing is, if I can’t work with you, I will work around you. I was not about to be [so] discouraged that I’d walk away. That may be a solution for some people, but it’s not mine.”

Annie Easley

Annie Easley

Centaur rocket

Retrospective(↓) (↑)

General characteristics

Status: Active
Total launches: 245 as of january 2018
First flight: May 9th 1962

Thechnical(↓) (↑)

Diameter: 3.05 m (10 ft)
Length: 12.68 m (42 ft)
Inert mass: 2,247 kg (4,954 lb)
Fuel: Liquid hydrogen
Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen
Fuel and oxidizer mass: 20,830 kg (45,922 lb)
Guidance: Inertial
Thrust: 99.2 kN (22,300 lbf)
Burn time: Variable; e.g., 842 seconds on Atlas V
Engine: RL10-C-1
Engine length: 2.32 m (7.6 ft)
Engine diameter: 1.53 m (5 ft)
Engine dry weight: 168 kg (370 lb)
Engine start: Restartable
Attitude control: 4 27-N thrusters, 8 40-N thrusters
Propellant: Hydrazine

Mysc(↓) (↑)

The Atlas-Centaur rocket combined an Atlas first stage, which burned kerosene fuel, with a Centaur second stage, fueled with liquid hydrogen; it was the first rocket to use liquid hydrogen as fuel.

…and Titan launch vehicles, is Centaur. This was the first U.S. rocket stage to employ cryogenic propellant. The first use of the Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle was to send Surveyor spacecraft to the Moon in 1966 and 1967; it flew many subsequent missions atop an Atlas first stage. When combined with…

(Centaur space program)(↓)

A high-energy rocket is largely responsible for advancing the quest for knowledge and revolutionizing global communications. Its name is Centaur, and it is America's Workhorse in Space. Centaur is one of NASA Lewis' (now NASA Glenn) most significant achievements. Centaur has been used to boost satellites into orbit and propel probes into space. It has helped to revolutionize communication and expand the frontiers of space. In all, Lewis used Centaur for more than 100 unmanned launches.

For almost 30 years, Lewis was responsible for the technical and cost and schedule management of the Centaur rocket. During that period of time many changes were made that have evolved the Centaur rocket into a workhorse for NASA. This program, since its first launch, has had an extraordinary operational success record. It was developed as an upper stage launch vehicle to be used with a first stage booster rocket, the Atlas rocket. Centaur's first mission objective was to send the unmanned Surveyor spacecraft to the Moon. In preparation for the Surveyor mission, eight experimental flights were conducted during a four year period. Technological improvements were made after each test flight.

NASA introduced a series of new space exploration missions for the 1970s, including the interplanetary Voyager spacecraft and the Viking Mars landers. The $1 billion Viking Program was vital to NASA’s future. Viking was the heaviest payload ever attempted in a launch and was over three times the weight of Atlas-Centaur’s previous heaviest payload. To accomplish these heavy launches, NASA paired Centaur with the Titan III launch vehicle. General Dynamics modified Centaur to fit Titan. The biggest change was a new faring called the Centaur Standard Shroud (CSS).

The CSS performed flawlessly during the August 20 and September 9, 1975 Viking launches, and the missions were huge successes. Viking 1 and 2 operated on the Martian surface into the early 1980s. The twin Voyager launches in 1977 were just as successful. After visiting a series of planets in the outer solar system, the spacecraft exited the solar system and continue to provide researchers with data today.

T-10, T-9, T-8, T-7, T-6...

T-5, T-4, T-3, T-2, T-1...

>>liftoff

Annie Easley

Surveyor, this is Houston: you are go for takeoff.

(Surveyor space program)(↓)

The Surveyor program consisted of seven unmanned lunar missions that were launched between May 1966 and January 1968. Five of these spacecraft, Surveyor 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 successfully soft-landed on the lunar surface. In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of lunar surface landings, the Surveyor missions obtained lunar and cislunar photographs and both scientific and technological information needed for the Apollo manned landing program. Four spacecraft, Surveyor 1, 3, 5, and 6, returned data from selected mare sites from Apollo program support, and Surveyor 7 provided data from a contrasting rugged highland region. For more on the individual missions, select from the list below.


The surveyor 1 Mission
Launch: 30 May, 1966
Landed: 2 June, 1966, 06:17:37 UT
Landing Site: Flamsteed P (2.45°S latitude, 316.79°E longitude)

In addition to proving a variety of new equipment and spacecraft design and validating the technique for landing on the Moon, Surveyor 1, the first U.S. spacecraft to land softly on the Moon, returned a large quantity of scientific data during its first two days of operation on the lunar surface. Following its landing the spacecraft transmitted 11,240 high-resolution television pictures. Surveyor 1 completed its primary mission on July 14, 1966, after transmitting, in addition to the television pictures, data on the bearing strength, temperatures, and radar reflectivity of the Moon. Subsequent engineering interrogations of the spacecraft were conducted through January 1967.


The Surveyor 2 Mission.
Launch: 20 September, 1966

Surveyor 2 was intended to land in Sinus Medii, a different area of the Apollo zone. When the midcourse maneuver was attempted, one of the vernier engines failed to ignite, and the unbalanced thrust caused the spacecraft to tumble. Although repeated efforts were made to salvage the mission, none was successful. Surveyor 2 crashed into the Moon southeast of Copernicus Crater on September 22, 1966.


The Surveyor 3 Mission
Launched: 17 April, 1967
Landed: 20 April, 1967, 00:04:53 UT
Landing Site: Oceanus Procellarum (2.94°S latitude, 336.66°E longitude)

The data from Surveyor 3 showed that it touched down on the lunar surface three times before landing because the engines did not shut down as intended. The spacecraft moved 20 meters between the first and second touchdowns and about 11 meters between the second and third. A final translation movement of about 30 centimeters occurred following the third touchdown. The engines finally shut down prior to the third touchdown. Like its predecessors, this mission carried a survey television camera, as well as other instrumentation for determining various properties of the lunar surface material. In addition, it carried a surface sampler instrument for digging trenches, making bearing tests, and otherwise manipulating the lunar material in view of the television system. During its operation, which ended May 4, 1967, Surveyor 3 acquired a large volume of new data and took 6326 pictures. In addition, the surface sampler accumulated 18 hours of operation, which yielded significant new information on the strength, texture, and structure of the lunar material to a depth of 17.5 centimeters.

"Hi Bob!"

Annie Easley

Annie Easley

Website made during an exercise supervised by Harry Bloch at ECAL, 2021