Mary Jackson was a trailblazing African American mathematician and aerospace engineer who made significant contributions to NASA. Born on April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia, Jackson graduated from the Hampton Institute (now known as Hampton University) with degrees in mathematics and physical science. In 1951, she began her career at NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

Despite facing racial and gender discrimination, Jackson persevered and became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958. She worked on various projects, including wind tunnel experiments and supersonic pressure tunnels, where her expertise and calculations were instrumental in the success of early space missions.

Jackson's work was groundbreaking, and she continued to advocate for the advancement of women and minorities in STEM fields. In 1979, she took on the role of NASA's Federal Women's Program Manager to promote and support the hiring and advancement of women at the agency.

Mary Jackson's story was featured in the book "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly and was later adapted into a critically acclaimed film of the same name in 2016. Her contributions to NASA and her pioneering efforts in breaking barriers for women and minorities in STEM have left a lasting impact on history.