Based on true events
Fourteen.. Fifteen..
Sixteen. Prime.
Eighteen. Prime.
Twenty.
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 1926
Twenty-one.
Twenty-two.
West Virginia Collegiate Institute is the
best school for Negros in the state.
Its the only school, past the eighth
grade, anywhere close to here.
Isosceles.. Scalene,
Equilateral,
Rhombus...
Trapezoid,
Katherines in the sixth grade.
They want to take her early.
Tetrahedron,
Dodecahedron.
Theyre offering a full scholarship.
All you have to do is get there.
Ms. Coleman.
Why dont you solve the equation
on the board?
We took up the collection amongst the
teachers and such,
It's not a lot.
But its enough to help you to
settle in the end.
Thats more than kind, Ms. Sumner.
If the product of two terms is zero,
then common sense says at least
one of the two terms
has to be zero to start with!
So, if you move all the terms over
to one side,
you can put the quadratics into a form
that can be factored,
Allowing that side of the equation
to equal zero.
Once youve done that,
its pretty straight forward from there...
In all my years of teaching,
Ive never seen a mind like
the one your daughter has.
- Katherien!
- Hurry on, now. Love!
You have to go.
Let Mommy take you in.
You have to see what she becomes.
HIDDEN FIGURES
Hampton, Virginia 1961
OK! Try and turn it over, now!
Katherine?!
Mary!
Somebody!
Katherine!? Quit staring off into space!
And turn the damn car over!
I got it.
Im not deaf!
I wonder some times.
Here it goes.
- Yeah!
- It's the starter.
Its definitely the starter.
That starters startin to make us late.
Were going to be unemployed driving around
in this balloon of junk to work everyday.
Youre welcome to walk the 16 miles.
Or sit on the back of the bus.
I wont do neither.
Ill hitchhike.
Girls!
No crime in a broken down car.
No crime being Negro either.
Button it up, Mary! Nobody wants to
go to jail behind your mouth.
Ill do my best, sugar.
Not a great place for the three of
yall to be havin car trouble.
We didnt pick the place, Officer.
It picked us.
You bein disrespectful?
No, sir.
- You have identification on ya?
- Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Were just on our way to work.
At Langley.
NASA, sir.
We do a great deal of the calculating
Getting our rockets into space.
- All three?
- Yes, sir.
Yes, officer.
NASA!
Thats somethin'!
Had no idea they hired...
There're quite a few women,
Working in the Space Program.
Damn Russians are watching us right now.
Sputniks.
You girls ever meet those Astronauts?
The Mercury 7?
Absolutely!
Yes, sir.
We work with those gentlemen all the time.
Those boys are the best we got.
- I'm sure of that!
- Yeah!
We gotta get a man up there
before the Commies do.
- Yes!
- Absolutely.
Whole damn countrys counting on em.
Thats for certain
Hard to be of service broken down on
the side of the road, though.
Right! Right!
Well, you need a tow or somethin?
No, thank you, Officer.
I think I got it, Just give me that..
Just need a ...
To bypass the starter...
She is good in this stuff!
Thata girl!
Were all set.
Hell. Least I can do is give ya
an escort.
Imagine yall are
running late to work.
Oh, no sir! We wouldnt
want to bother you.
That would be wonderful, Officer.
Thank you so much, sir.
- Follow me!
- I'm driving!
Hurry up, Dorothy!
Before he changes his mind!
- We're coming!
- Hold your horses!
Yes!
- Mary! Slow down! Youre so close!
- Well, be quiet. He said to follow him!
He didnt mean you hit him behind!
Dear Lord..
I dont even know where to begin!
Oh! Ill tell you where to begin!
three negro women are chasing
a white police office
down the highway in Hampton, Virginia
Ladies, that there is
a God ordained miracle!
- Handsome officer!
- I'm frightened, pus!
Show me!
No, exactly!
Ascend angle: 46.56.
118 seconds.
Second stage. Success.
Korabl-Sputnik-4 is orbital.
Orbital entry is established.
Russian orbital entry is established.
Jim Webb.
Yes, Mr. President !
We certainly are, sir.
It looks like they've achieved at least
one orbit.. Maybe two!
Zvezdochka is ready to go again.
So is our comrade, Ivan.
A brave space traveler.
We have proven life can be sustained
in space.
Now, we will be first to send a human
A damn dog!
And a damn mannequin!
And then a 1.6 megaton
RDS-37 thermonuclear warhead
drops down in the
middle of Des Moines.
Well, thats a pretty big jump, sir.
What?
- Just there's that..
- Who the hell is he?
Paul Stafford.
Our Lead Engineer, Mr. Webb.
I think what he meant to say
is that speculation, at least
on our side of the equation
by definition, can be..
Just a little dangerous.
Dangerous?
You know what's dangerous,
Mr. Stafford?
Inaction, and indecision.
Russians have a spy
satellite lapping the planet,
taking pictures
of God knows what!
The President is demanding
an immediate response.
No more delays.
Alan Shepard, John Glenn, your uncle Bob.
Doesnt matter,
just get us up there, Harrison
We cant justify a space program
that doesn't put anything in space.
How did that feel in there, Paul?
Do you think you enlightened
the Administrator?
No! He didnt look enlightened to me.
- He look enlightened to you, Sam?
- Not particularly.
And just so you know, hes not
wrong about what he said in there.
You know that, right?
Because now that they can get up there,
a bomb will follow.
Thats what happens to all our good ideas.
Imaginary still.. Wait!
Wheres the machine?
Any day now, Mr. Harrison.
- Any day now.
- Yes, sir.
Whats it called?
- The initials...
- There. IBM.
International business machine.
Space is a business!
I need a mathematician.
- Ill put in another request, sir.
- Another request.
Jesus Christ! We dont have
a single person, in this entire building,
that can handle Analytic Geometry?
Thats what Ive been told.
Well, tell me something else, Ruth.
Like were going to find such a person
before the Russians plant a flag
on the damn moon.
Ladies! ladies!
If you're retarded, you don't get
Mrs. Simone,
And if you don't get Mrs. Simone,
you don't have a job.
Eleanor. Data Reduction, Building 202.
Date Reduction?!
Well. Youre welcome to join the
charmers in Magneto-plasmadynamics.
Oh! No, maam.
Thank you, Data Reductions just fine.
- Mary.
- Present.
The Mercury 7 prototype
has arrived for testing.
Mr. Zielinskis requesting you.
For permanent assignment.
- Are you serious?
- Get moving.
Oh! Thank you, Jesus!
- Thank you, Jesus! Oh! Thank you.
- Mary!
Keep it inside, hon.
I'm sorry, Dor
All right, Mrs. late!
You'll also be splendid in script.
Mrs. Mitchell.
Were on double time this mornin, girls.
I need these calculations before lunch.
The Space Task Group needs a computer,
ASAP.
Someone with a handle on
Analytic Geometry.
We cant fill the position outta
the East Group.
Permanent or temp?
Everythings temporary, Dorothy.
- You have someone?
- Oh! Yes, maam.
Katherines the gal for that.
She can handle any numbers you put
in front of her.
Ill check her credentials.
Didnt think of comin all the way
down here.
Here.
Please spread these out.
Mrs. Mitchell!
If I could.
My application for supervisor, maam.
Was just wondering if theyre still
considering me for that position.
Yes.
Well, the official word is: no.
Theyre not assignin a permanent
supervisor for the Colored Group.
May I ask why?
I dont know why.
I didnt ask why.
We need a Supervisor, maam.
We havent had one since Ms. Jansen got sick
It's been almost a year.
Things are workin just fine as is.
I do the work of a Supervisor.
Well.
Thats NASA, for ya.
Fast with rocket ships.
Slow with advancement.
Get those trajectories calcs worked out.
We need em for the Redstone test.
Mach 1 tunnel test, T-minus one minute.
No shoe is worth your life
One.. One moment!
Shut it down.
If we alter the exterior from smooth
to corrugated, the capsule would
have more stability,
But the friction,
its under during reentry..
most shield erosion occurs
on the posterior side abutting
the retro-boosters.
Conclusion?
The area closest to the boosters
is closest to the heat.
Coupled with rising temperatures
on reentry,
the contacts soften.
We could consider another fastener
other than bolts.
Yes!
Yes.
Theres another opening in
the Engineer Training Program.
Flat head rivets would reduce wind drag.
Mary! a person with an engineers
mind should be an engineer.
You cant be a Computer
the rest of your life.
Mr. Zielinski.
Im a Negro woman.
Im not gonna to entertain the impossible!
Then Im a polish Jew whose parents
died in a Nazi prison camp.
Now Im standing beneath a space ship,
thats going to carry an astronaut
to the stars.
I think we can say,
we are living the impossible.
Let me ask you..
If you were a white male,
Would you wish to be an engineer?
I wouldnt have to.
Id already be one.
Skirts must be worn past the knee.
Sweaters are preferred to blouses.
No jewelry.
A simple pearl necklace is the exception.
Your supervisor is Mr. Al Harrison.
Director of the Space Task Group.
write research,
proof calculations, so forth.
Dont talk to Mr. Harrison lest
he talks to you.
Not many Computers last
more than a few days,
Hes been through a dozen
in as many months.
Come on! Keep up!
I think it's a little faster to run here!
Your clearance.
Theyve never had a colored in here before,
Katherine.
Dont embarrass me.
This wasnt emptied last night.
Im sorry. Im not the..
Curses on me!
Excuse me, maam.
Mr. Harrisons Computer reporting.
Take the desk in the back.
Ill get you work in a..
Bit.
Mr. Harrison wont warm up to you,
dont expect it.
Do your work, keep your head down.
Thank you.
Go on. Get settled.
Well..
Why are we still losing shingles off
the heat shield?
Well, Were working with a
prototype of the capsule, Al.
There is one third the size..
- And I get that. So..
Well, do we need to turn
our million dollar fan down, Karl?
- Turn it down?
- No, I don't think...
Hey! That was a joke.
Paul. If the heat shield comes off,
What'do gonna happens to our astronaut?
I know.
So were gonna..
Then come up with a solve, right?
Yes, sir. Were working on it.
Ruth. Whats the status on my Computer?
Shes right behind you, Mr. Harrison.
Does she handle how's Analytic Geometry?
Absolutely. And she speaks.
Yes, sir. I do.
- Which one?
- Both.
Geometry and speaking.
Ruth. Give me that.
Do you think you..
You think you can find me the Frenet frame
for this data,
Using the GramSchmidt...
With Orthogonalization algorithm.
Yes, sir.
I prefer it over Euclidean coordinates.
OK. Good.
Good. Then, Im going to need it
by the end of the day.
Yes.
Im also going to ask you to check
Mr. Staffords math
as well as others on this
floor from time to time.
I can.. I can handle'm all, Al.
Im sure you can, Paul.
Im sure all of you can.
But if that were the case,
Shingles wouldnt be flying off the
heat shield, now would they.
Excuse me. Can I have
everyone's attention for a moment?
Thank you. Just a..
Just to be clear..
In 14 days the Mercury 7
will be here for training.
And I have no doubt in my mind
that theyre going to be
Asking us questions about our work.
I think that's a pretty reason
we're giving. We're putting a human..
on top of a missile and
shooting him into space?
And its never been done before.
And because its never been done.
Everything we do
between now and
then is going to matter.
Its going to matter to their wives.
To their children.
I believe its going to matter to
the whole damn country.
So this Space Task Group will be
as advertised.
America's greatest engineering
and scientific minds
will not gonna have a problem
with having their work checked.
Will they, Paul?
No, sir.
Good. So lets have an amen, damnit
Amen.
Amen.
All right!
My numbers are spot on.
Ill double check them, sir.
No problem.
- Im not gonna be able to..
- Work on what you can read.
The rest is classified.
You dont have clearance.
Excuse me...
May I ask you where the ladies room is?
Sorry, I have no idea where
your bathroom is?
Yes, sir.
Ah! Yes.
- Ruth!
- Yes, Mr. Harrison.
Wheres that girl go with the numbers?
On a... break.
We take breaks now.
My God, where have you been?
Are you finished yet?
Almost.
He said about the end of the day?
The end of the day around
here was yesterday.
I need those done first.
He wants those done first.
- OK !
- Get going.
Mr. Harrison.
Oh! Yeah, just settle up,
you know.
And Staffords heat shield calcs?
Its hard to be sure, sir.
Hard to be sure.
You know what were doing here?
Trying to put a man in space, sir.
Thats right.
Thats right. So you can
throw that in the trash.
Excuse me?
I said you can throw it away!
Here.
It's not an insult to your work.
It's just..
.. Obsolete.
That's how fast things are moving around here.
If I said I was sorry,
I'd be saying it all day.
What Im asking you to do.. what Im
asking everyone one in that room,
all my... geniuses,
is to look beyond the numbers.
To look around them.
Through them.
For answers to questions we dont even
know to ask.
Math that doesnt yet exist.
Because without it,
were not going anywhere.
I mean, were staying on the ground.
Were not...
flying into space. Were not..
circling the earth. And were certainly
not touching the moon. And in my mind..
In my mind, Im already there.
Are you?
Yes, sir.
Good.
Because I dont need another smart girl
with a adding machine.
Can I go, sir?
Go? Yeah. Go, yeah.
Go home.
Yes, you can go.
..I'm saying this is so much.
I'm not saying that.. I..
Weve been waiting for hours.
Next time you take the bus.
Shes in a mood.
I havent been late one day in ten years.
Havent been out sick.
Havent complained. My works on time.
Its done right. Its done well.
Its not fair, thats a fact.
Whats not fair is having
the responsibility of the Supervisor,
but not the title or the pay.
Watching you two moved on.
Now dont get me wrong.
Any upward movement is movement for us all
It just isnt movement for me.
Truth be told, Dorothy, I dont really know
if I can keep up in that room.
Ill be back with the Computers in a week,
or out of a job entirely.
Oh, please! Youre better with the numbers
than anyone in the cabin and you know it.
Make that pencil move as fast as
your mind does, youll be fine.
And you. Have some respect! Get
your damn feet off my dash board.
This isnt your jump living room.
I sound like a supervisor, dont I?
A mean, ole salty one.
Riddled with authority.
No question.
You dont mess with, Mrs. Vaughan.
Turn that music up!
- Goodnight, Katherine!
- Bye, Kath!
Goodnight, ladies!
See you in the morning.
- Here, baby!
- Hello, mamma.
I was fixing to call the National Guard.
Sorry, Momma.
New assignment.
Space Task Group.
Oh! No, girl! This how's important?
Its a promotion?
Maybe a slight promotion.
But you want the job, right?
I think so.
Its a challenge. But..
Well, it's nothing you cant do handle,
Katherine.
Thank you, mamma.
- Are they asleep yet?
- No. Pretending to be.
They're not pretending well, enough!
Thank you, mamma.
Loving.
This is my bed!
What are you doing!?
Its not fair how Joylette gets to
sleep by herself cause shes the oldest.
Yes. it is fair!
Constance, Kathy, sit.
Now, I understand you want to be grown.
And have your own space
So who wants to sleeps in that bed,
in Joylettes place,
will also do the dishes,
take out the trash,
and do all of Joylettes choirs.
Thats okay. Never mind.
Shes not so terrible to share with.
OK.
Now dont let me come home, find you
like this again. You hear me!
It's supposed to been asleep.
A long time ago.
We just wanna to say goodnight.
Youve been gone for 300 hours.
I work full time now. You all know that.
I have to be the mommy and the daddy.
I miss your father as much as anyone
Hes with his angels.
Yes. Hes with all his angels.
And hes watching over us.
Every minute. OK?
That's why we have to be strong.
All right?
- Yes, Mamma.
- Yeah! Get some rest, OK?
- Mamma?
- Yes, baby.
Are the Russians fixing to attack us?
Whered you get that from?
We had to hide under our desks today.
All scrunched up.
OK, baby. That's called a drill.
It means ..
You practice safety, just in case
something happens.
Truth is, we dont know what
theyre doing up there.
- You're going up to space too?
- No, baby. But..
Im going to do what I can to help those
brave men get there. Yes, I'm.
You can fly to space too if you wanted to,
Mamma. You can be an astronaut.
- Did you draw this?
- Yes, mamma.
Is that me?
Yes, it is.
Oh, well. Goodness! I love you, baby.
- Me too!
- I know, I know. Come here.
All right!
Now this time...really go to bed.
I love you.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
I love my picture, baby.
- Praise God!
- Praise God!
- Hallelujah!
- Hallelujah!
Praise God that change is coming.
From the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference,
to the good Reverend Dr. King,
Hallelujah!
to the students sitting in
at lunch counters in North Carolina.
His faith in us has no limit!
The good Lord..
has our very own women..
workin on rocket ships!
And we have National Guardsmen
defending our freedom!
Give a shout of praise for Colonel
Jim Johnson.
Returning home by the grace of God,
to set up a National Guard unit
right here in Hampton.
- Can I get a Hallelujah in here?!
- Hallelujah!
I just don't understand..
I just.. I don't..
I don't understand.
I don't want to talk
about this again, OK?
A female engineer?
A female engineer.
Were Negro, baby. Aint no
such thing. Understand it.
Its not like that there, Levi.
You cant apply for freedom. Freedom
is never granted to the oppressed.
Its got to be demanded. Taken.
Stop quoting your slogans at me.
Theres more than one way to
achieve something.
I dont want any greens.
I tell you about interrupting?
Yeah! Try this, baby.
You need the greens too.
Kid needs to eat vegetables.
You would know that, if you were home.
You better settle down, Levi Jackson.
Less you want this females mind
right here, front of everybody.
All Im saying
Dont play the fool.
I dont want to see you get hurt.
NASAs never given you gals your due,
having a couple issued degrees
wont change that.
Civil rights aint always civil.
I don't wanna any greens either.
No lip, little miss. Your brother
gets them, and so do you.
I knew hes planning on staying
in the area.
Well. Thats good for him.
Katherine,
go find your way over there.
That Colonel Jims a tall glass of water!
That he is.
Tall. Strong. Commanding.
- Perhaps he's like that day...and night.
- Mary!
Its Sunday!
Please, have some shame.
I will not.
- Mm. I think hes smiling over here.
- At you!
- Then, Im not smiling back.
- Youre all teeth right now.
I am not!
- Hes coming over!
- Now, whys he doing that
- Because Marys waving at him!
- No! Ladies, I'm not..
Too late. Fix your hair on the side.
Im Dorothy Vaughan. This is Mary Jackson.
I believe you met her husband, Levi.
Yes, maam. We did meet each other.
And this is Katherine Goble.
Shes not married. Shes a widow.
With three little girls,
so well-behaved.
Angels on earth, if you'd like to call.
- Dorothy, slice-a pie?
- Id love one
Excuse me!
You've already have slice-a pie!
Well, I was just..
- fixing my three babies some plates.
- May I help?
Sure.
Ah! For salad!
Pastor mentioned youre a Computer
at NASA
- Yes!
- Whats that entail?
We calculate the mathematics
necessary to enable
launch and landing for
the Space Program.
- Pretty heady stuff!
- Yes, it is.
They let women handle that sort of..
Yes. Not what I mean!
What do you mean?
I am.. just surprised something so..
taxing..
Mr. Johnson!
If.. you at that quit talking right now!
Im not meaning any disrespect
Ill have you know, I was
the first Negro female
student at West Virginia
University Graduate School.
On any given day,
I analyze the manometer levels
for air displacement
friction and velocity.
and compute over 10,000
calculations by cosine,
square root and lately
Analytic Geometry.
By hand. There are 20 bright,
highly capable Negro women in the
West Computing Group,
and were proud to be doing our
part for the country.
So, yes..
They let women do some things at NASA,
Mr. Johnson.
And its not because we wear skirts..
Its because we wear glasses!
Have a good day!
Welcome.
Welcome, marina.
Right here, Gentlemen!
That's Alan Shepard.
US Navy pilot. He could be
the first man in space.
- Yes!
- Scott Carpenter and Walter Schirra.
Also Navy pilots.
All under 511, 180 lbs.
IQs over 130.
And handsome must
be a requirement too.
How can you possibly be
ogling these white men?
Its equal rights. I have the
right to see fine in every color.
He must be John Glenn.
He's the only Marine Corps pilot.
Gentlemen, if we may..
much to see around here.
Heck, havent shaken all the hands yet.
- We have a fairly tight itinerary, Colonel.
- Ruth, it's fine.
- He's coming straight.
- look around ahead.
Ladies. Didnt wanna
run off without saying hello...
They seem to be
in a big rush around her.
The Russians certainly arent
slowing down any.
It's a big deal frigerator, how
the heck they beat us into space?
What do you ladies do for NASA?
- Calculate your trajectories, sir.
Launch and landing.
- I cant get anywhere without the numbers.
- No, sir.
Mary Jackson, Mr. Glenn.
Engineering. And I'm proud as
the devil to be workin with you.
Thank you, Mary.
John!
- Now, let's take this side!
- Yes, sir.
Guys!
Mr. Harrison wants you
to confirm launch
and landing for the
Redstone Rocket test.
I cannot work on what I cannot see,
Mr. Stafford.
Its illegible.
These numbers ere even
confirmed by two engineers
in this department, and myself.
This is more-or
less a dummy check.
This one, like make a two. Make
a double. OK? Get it?
No one thought to measure these things.
I'm afraid, not. Sir.
Would you like us to stop?
No. No, just..
I see, no. Just keep going.
That..
- Use.. Use the big hammer!
- Yes, sir.
Come! Use the big hammer.
You know that, man. Let's go!
Ma'am.
Our runner can pick up your work, Dorothy.
You need to be workin,
not walkin.
Oh! Its break time, maam.
No trouble at all.
And since you made the trip...
you can take that batch over there!
Sure thing, Mrs. Mitchell.
You need somethin else?
Yes, ma'am.
I was wondering if you knew what
theyre building in the Tech Wing.
Its called an IBM.
A mainframe machine.
Apparently, it can do our calculations
in a fraction-a the time.
Guess thats good for NASA.
Hurry on, now.
Best if you do it in one trip.
Excuse me!
Is that correct?
Yeah!
Whose work is that?
I said, whose work is that?!
Katherine Goble, sir.
How did you know the Redstone
couldnt support orbital flight?!
Thats classified information
Its top secret.
Well, it's my secret why the
Redstone tests keep failing,
for sub-orbital flight, but it cant
handle the weight of the capsule,
and push it into space.
Numbers dont lie.
And you figured out all that with this?
Half the data is redacted!
Whats there tells the story
if you read between the lines.
The distance from launch to orbit, we know.
Then mass we know.
The Mercury Capsule weight, we know.
And the speeds are there.. in the data.
You did the math.
Yes, sir.
I looked beyond.
Then how did you know about the
Atlas rocket?
Thats not math.
That datas not here. Like he said,
its classified.
I held it up to the light.
- You held it up to the light?
- Yes, sir.
Yep. There it is.
Atlas!
Whats your name?
Katherine Goble.
- Are you a spy, Katherine?
- Am I what?
- I'm saying, are you a Russian spy?
- No, sir.
Im not Russian.
Shes not Russian, sir.
All right then, we have
nothing to lose here.
Lets get her everything she needs
to work on Shepards trajectories.
Without redaction.
Are we clear enough?
Right.
Are we sure about this?
Whats the issue, Paul?
You heard her.
Shes not a spy.
I.. I just dont think its a good idea.
You know what I think is a good idea?
Darker ink.
I think darker ink is a good idea.
Ruth, could pass it along?
Yes, sir.
- Thank you, Katherine!
- Thank you, sir.
This interrogation is over!
You can probably get to the
moon and back with these.
Just not the bathroom.
Least theyre not
blind to what you do.
Its not going to matter soon.
This IBMs going to put us all out of work.
What can we do about it?
One thing to do!
Learn all we can.
Make ourselves valuable.
Somewhere down the line a human beings
going to have to hit the buttons.
That's right.
Oh, mercy!
Well, she must be lost.
NASA doesnt commission females
for the Engineer Training Program.
That position is available to any
qualified applicant.
Right. Except you dont have
the educational requirements.
I have a Bachelors Degree in
Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
It's the same degree as most
engineers around here.
Well, we now require advanced extension
courses through the University of Virginia.
Its in the Employee Handbook.
An addendum.
Case you havent read it!
Every time we have a chance to get
ahead, youll move the finish line.
I just follow the rules around here.
And I expect..
everyone who works for
me to follow them as well.
There are no special circumstances
for anyone.
You all should be thankful,
you have jobs at all.
For those that cannot attend classes
at the University of Virginia,
Advanced Extension Courses are
available at Hampton High School.
Thats still a segregated school. Mary!
Virginia acts like Brown vs. the Board
of Education never happened.
Theyll never gonna allow a colored woman
just take classes at an all white school!
- Sounds about right.
- Thats all youre gonna say?
Well, Im not going to sit
here all day and listen to you
complain about the way things
are which are as a play cards.
Petition the court. Fight for what
you want. But quit talking about it
- Ive been complaining?
- For days!
Ladies!
Not one more peep about work.
Do you need vin?
Katherine,
come on!
You!
Yeah! I needed this!
Thank you!
Dont give her any more again.
I cant. She drank it all.
Yes.
I'm fine!
Im as fine as Ive ever been.
Youre as drunk as youve ever been.
Come on! let's dance, girls.
Come on, Kath!
Let's dance.
Go dance, Katherine.
Come on!
Just teach me how!
Keep going, here! All right.
Slow! Here slow down.
Dont pay attention to all that. Were
not part of that trouble. Go on!
Leonard..
We must have done it.
We dont want any trouble in here.
Oh! Im not here for any trouble. Ma'am.
What are you here for?
A book.
You have books in the colored section.
It doesnt have what Im looking for.
Well, I suggest the way it is.
Well, you know better...
Get your hands off my boys.
Dont touch them.
You have a blessed day.
Separate and equal are
two different things.
Just cause its the way
doesnt make it right.
Understand?
Yes, mamma.
You act right, you are right.
Thats for certain. Understand?
Yes, mamma.
You took that book, mamma?
Son, I pay taxes.
And taxes pay for everything
in that library.
You take something what
you already paid for.
FORTRAN is a new and exciting language..
Used by programmers to communicate
with computers...
It's exciting, as it's the way
of the future.
And everybody smile.
Everybody smile.
Make a wish!
Leonard, you need to get you a job now.
Two girls!
- Well, look at that.
- Look at what?
What a surprise.
I'll say.
- Howard must have invited him.
- Mmm. Hmmm.
I need to go and see the boys.
I believe I owe you an apology.
What was that it?
Can I make it while we dance?
Im afraid I simply misspoke the other
day, Mrs. Goble.
Ive been away for a long time.
I imagine, Im just out of practice.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. I was hoping you would allow me
to start over?
Mm-hmm.
So, the thing is..
I have an interest in getting
to know you better.
Mm-hmm.
You are one tough customer. Huh?
You haven't said youre sorry yet!
Right.
Of course.
Im sorry, Katherine.
For what, Jim?
Underestimating you.
Or any woman like you.
Though I cant imagine theres many.
Thats good practice, right there.
We interrupt this musical programming
with breaking news.
The Soviet news agency has announced
that Russian cosmonaut,
Yuri Gagarin, has become
the first man in space.
Gagarin completed one full orbit around
the planet in 108 minutes.
Stay tuned to the station for more
details, as they become available.
Man!
Does that pussies pad look here?
.. a versatile one rocket,
and then the Russian cosmonaut
April 12, 1961
Yuri Gagarin first man in space
Yuri Gagarin, 3KA capsule
in the orbit at 6:07 UTC.
Reentering Russian Air Space at 7:55 UTC.
Proving conclusively
that man could survive orbital space wide.
Gagarin was a..
Well..
They beat the pants off us.
Lets go..
Just learn how to fly to space.
And he's been declared a national hero.
This is a day of unprecedented triumph
for the Russian national program,
And a crushing blow for America
in the race for space.
I want to thank everyone for staying.
I know its late, and
after what we just saw...
I'm sure everyones
probably anxious to go home.
But before we do, I just have
to ask a question...
The same one..
I've been asking myself all the way
over here, which is.
How the hell we find ourselves
in second place in a two man race?
Anybody?
Paul?
I think Glenn said it pretty well.
Theyre just outworking us.
And the reason I have to..
think that is because I refuse to believe
that the Russians are smarter than us,
or that they have more technology.
Or that they care more.
But I dont know? Is that possible?
Is it possible that it actually means
more to them?
Were in the fight of our lives, people.
This isnt some epic joyride!
I just saw seven faces..
Who werent sure that
we can get there.
Here's our problem.
And so, as of right now,
Theres only two things you
need to know going forward
One is, staying here working late
that's gonna be a fact of life.
And two, don't expect your
paychecks reflect the extra time
is gonna take to catch
up and pass those bastards.
For those of you that cant
work that way, I understand'em
and thank you
for what you've done.
For everyone else,
I suggest you call your wives..
and tell them how its gonna be.
Ill start with mine.
Redstone Unnamed Rocket Test
- Sam! Go on!
- Yes, sir
End of the day.
Tell me. we're looking good?
Try!
- So am I be there? Switch the latch!
- I'm taking a watch!
Were honored to serve our country.
So, we dont think about..
Danger.
No time to be scared.
we have a job to do
Mrs. Jackson!
Colored seats are at the back
of the courtroom.
Thank you, ma'am.
So, which one of you wants to go first?
The IBM 7090 Data Processing System,
It has a capability of solving of over
24,000 multiplications
per second!
- Holy Moses, thats lightning fast!
- Theyll never get it to work.
Itll run eventually. And when it does
we have to know how to program it.
- Unless youd rather be out of a job?
- No!
Mr. Z.
I got a court date.
Computing uses it as high speed storage
unit and..
And information holding device.
We have a file!
And I'll do it for you!
Now, listen! Hold the spark!
Beautiful!
- Ruth!
- Yes, sir.
Get the Cape on the line.
Shepards trajectories need to be updated.
Where is she?!
Where the hell have you been?
Everywhere I look you're not
where I need you to be.
And it's not my imagination. So where
the hell do you go everyday?
To the bathroom, sir.
The bathroom!
To the damn bathroom!
For 40 minutes a day!?
What do you do in there!?
We are T-minus zero here.
I put a lot of faith in you.
Theres no bathroom for me here.
What do you mean theres
no bathroom for you here?
Here is no bathroom!
There are no colored bathrooms
in this building,
or any building outside the West Campus.
Which is half a mile away!
Did you know that?
I have to walk to Timbuktu
just to relieve myself!
And I cant use one of the handy bikes.
Picture that, Mr. Harrison?
My uniform...
Skirt below the knees and my heels.
And simple necklace pearls.
Well, I don't own pearls.
Lord knows you dont pay the
coloreds enough to afford pearls!
And I work like a dog day and night,
living on coffee from a pot none of
you want me to touch!
So, excuse me..
if I have to go to the restroom
a few times a day!
There you have it!
No more colored restrooms.
No more white restrooms.
Just plain old toilets.
Go wherever you damn well please.
Preferably closer to your desk.
At NASA...
We all pee the same color!
Heard you were fighting the flu.
Thought you could use some soup?
Hot meal for the girls.
Come on, in.
Excuse me!
OK, ladies!
Let's say grates..
Ah! Yes!
Dear Lord!
Thank you for this meal..
We ask that you blessed this food,
that may you bless it to our bodies.
In Jesus name, we pray.
Amen.
May 5, 1961
Alan Shepard Launch
It's a history day at Cape Canaveral,
and here we can expect Alan Shepard on
Freedom 7 will be launched in the space
in altitude about 116 miles an hour.
- Dorothy! Come on or you'll miss it!
- I'm coming.
Any day now, Capcom.
Fix your little problem,
and light this candle!
Roger that, Freedom 7.
Standby.
Move to final countdown sequence.
Moving to final countdown sequence.
Copy that.
And were at T-minus
10..
9... 8... 7... 6...
.. 5... 4...
3... 2...
1...
Zero!
And we have liftoff!
Get up there!
Get on up there.
Trajectory is good.
"Yaw" is okay!
Switching to manual roll.
For the eyes of the world
now look into space,
to the moon and to
the planets beyond..
and we have vowed...
that we shall not see it governed.
by a hostile flag of conquest,
but by a banner
of freedom and peace.
We set sail on this new sea,
because there is new
knowledge to be gained..
and new rights to be won...
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade
and do the other things..
not because they are easy,
but because they are hard.
.. Because we should all thank President
Kennedy for continued job security.
Gus Grissoms up next.
Another suborbital flight with a Redstone.
Our last shot before we strap
Glenn to the Atlas..
And.. pray we can get him back down.
Yes, and I imagine hed like us to have
the math figured out beforehand.
Good work, gentlemen.
Go have dinner with your kids.
Then...
lets get back to work.
I think its high time that
I kissed you, Kathe.
Oh. And whys that?
Figure youre attracted to me
the same as I to you.
Is that right?
Or you would have told me to
get going a long time ago.
Havent kissed a man in a long time.
Almost forgot how to.
The FBI has arrested four white
men accused of throwing a fire
bomb into a Freedom Riders bus
south-side of Anniston, Alabama.
- Hi, baby!
- Hello!
- The kids dont need to be watching this..
- They need to see this!
Everyone needs to see this.
We think we arranging a
great service to our nation.
For this is not a struggle
for ourselves alone.
It is the struggle to save
the soul of America.
Mary Jackson.
Petition to attend courses at
Hampton High School.
Good morning, your honor.
Hampton High School is a white school,
Mrs. Jackson.
Yes, your Honor.
Im aware of that.
Virginia is still a segregated state.
Regardless of what the Federal
Government says, or regardless what..
Supreme Court says our law..
is the law.
Your Honor,
if I may.
I believe there are special circumstances
to be considered.
What would warrant
a colored woman attendin a white school?
May I approach the bench, sir?
Your Honor,
You of all people should understand
the importance of being first.
Hows that, Mrs. Jackson?
Well, you were the first in your family
to serve in the Armed Forces.
US Navy.
The first to attend University.
George Mason.
And the first State Judge to be re-commissioned
by three consecutive Governors.
Youve done some research.
Yes, sir.
Whats the point?
The point is, your Honor...
No Negro woman in the State of Virginia
has ever attended an all white school.
- Its unheard of.
- Yeah! Unheard of.
And before Alan Shepard
sat on top of a rocket,
no other American had ever touched space.
And now, he will forever be remembered
as the US Navy man from New Hampshire.
The first to touch the stars.
And I, sir.
I plan on being an engineer at NASA.
But I cant do that without taking those
classes at that all-white high school.
And I cant change the color of my skin.
So, I have no choice.. but to be the first.
Which I cant do without you, sir.
Your Honor,
of all the cases youll hear today,
which one will matter in a hundred years from now?
Which one will make you the first?
Only the night classes.
Mrs. Jackson.
Gus Grissom: Launch and Landing Projection
By: Paul Stafford
and Katherine Goble
- All right. Do you say, how it gonna be?
- Give me more 5 minutes' sir.
Gus Grissom's are going late..
Id like to get a jump on
John Glenns trajectory.
Do you have any idea what youre asking?
An orbital launch
with an Atlas Rocket is going to take time.
Is there a problem?
Mr. Harrison...
I was wondering....
Ive been wondering my whole life.
So just... Spit it out.
Well, sir.
Id like to get a jump on
John Glenns trajectory.
This isnt about plugging in numbers,
this is about inventing the math.
I think we talked about that, right?
It doesnt exist.
I can do it, sir.
Do you know any idea how exacting
these calculations have to be?
Its like shooting a sawed-off shotgun
from a thousand feet,
and getting that one beebee through a hole
so tiny, you cant even see it.
Im an excellent shot, sir.
How're Grissoms numbers. Paul?
They appear spot on.
Give Glenns orbit a go.
But you run it all through Stafford.
Understood?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Computers dont author reports.
July 21, 1961
Gus Grissom Recovery
Liberty Bell 7 capsule is stalking on water.
Gus Grissom is out of the capsule. Rescuers
are gonna bull him from the Ocean waves.
Unfortunately,
Liberty Bell 7 capsule..
.. is lost.
Mr. Harrison, Taxpayer money sank in
the ocean along with your capsule.
What makes you think you can
bring John Glenn home safely?
Let me say first that discovery is never
for the sake of discovery, Gentlemen,
but for the sake of human survival.
It will always come with risk.
Whoever gets there first, will make the rules.
Thats been true of every civilization. And so..
I think the bigger question for
this body to consider is..
who do you want calling the shots in space?
We have to know whats out there, Senator.
We have to touch the stars. If
only to ensure our own survival.
And only a man can do that.
Well get John Glenn home safely
because we have to,
because he has to tell us what he saw.
The Redstone Rocket went straight up.
But the capsule..
.. didn't have enough speed to go
into orbit. So came back down.
Essentially its a triangle..
Earth, sub-orbit, Earth.
The math was known.
It took Shepard,
it took Grissom.
But cannot take Glenn.
Now, The Atlas Rocket..
That can push us into orbit..
It goes up...
Delivers the capsule
into an elliptical orbit.
Earths gravity keeps pulling it,
but its going so fast that
it keeps missing the Earth.
That's how it stays in orbit.
Now, Getting it back down...
Thats the math we dont know.
Yes, Katherine!
So, the capsule will spin
around the Earth forever,
because theres nothing
to slow it down?
That's right. Slowing it down at precisely
the right moment,
by precisely the right amount
That is the task.
Yes, Katherine!
So, it means to move from an
elliptical orbit.. to a parabolic orbit?
Yes.
Thats the Go/ No Go.
Now, this point is a pin head.
- We bring him in too soon..
- He burns up on reentry.
That's right. We bring him too late,
and hes pushed out of Earths gravity.
Any changes in mass, weight, speed, time,
distance, friction... or a puff of wind..
would alter the Go/No Go.
And we start our calculatings.. over?
Yes.
So, we need to be able to
choose this re-entry point.
This Go/No Go.
This has to be exact.
Sam!
These are the latest Redstone numbers
and current capsule data.
Obviously, we know the launch spot
The Pentagon Briefing should illuminate
where the Navy needs the recovery zone.
When we work backwards from there.
And the rest is on us.
So, let's get to work.
- Mr. Stafford.
- What, Katherine?
If I can attended these briefings, I
would be more useful to the project.
Pentagon briefing is a closed door.
Yes.
But we don't have the information,
or the changes.. we cant keep up.
I need the changes as they occur.
- As you said, its a pin head.
- Katherine, thats the job.
Then, when you asked for the assignment.
So just calculate with what you have.
Or well find someone who can.
OK.
Thata girl.
And what the hell are you doing!?
You cant be in here!
Who are you?
Im with the West Computing Group.
Dorothy Vaughan, sir.
But, this is a very
delicate piece of equipment.
Im sorry, sir.
I'm just trying to be helpful.
Bill, weve got numbers.
What kind of numbers?
Look, Bill.
What's your name again?
Dorothy Vaughan.
Dorothy Vaughan?
Friendship 7 : Launch Projections
Sir, Launch parameters
for Friendship 7.
Oh, Jesus! Its all moot. Were
altering the window on the capsule.
When did this happen?
6 minutes ago. The mass is changing.
Start over.
Sir.. If I could attend briefings..
I could stay current..
Katherine, weve been through this.
Its not possible.
Theres no protocol for women attending.
Theres no protocol for a man
circling the Earth either, sir.
OK. Thats just
the way things are.
Friendship 7 : Launch Projections
By: Paul Stafford
and Katherine Goble.
Colonel Glenns launch coordinates
accounting for the window change, sir.
Ive told you this: Computers dont
author reports. Fix it.
Those are my calculations.
My name should be on it.
But it is not the way this works.
Paul.
Whats happening here?
Mr. Harrison,
Id like to attend todays briefing.
- Whys that?
- Well, sir, the data changes so fast.
The capsule changes. The weight and the
landing zones are all changing everyday.
I do my work, you attend these briefings.
I have to start all over.
Colonel Glenn launches in a few weeks.
We dont have the math figured out yet.
- Why cant she attend?
- Because she doesnt have clearance, Al.
I can not do my work effectively
if I do not have all of the data,
and all of the information
as soon as its available.
I need to be in that room,
hearing what you hear.
Pentagon Briefings are not for civilians.
It requires the highest clearance.
I feel like Im the best person
to present my calculations
- Will you let this go, huh?
- Well, I'm not!
Let her in? Shes a woman.
Theres no protocol for a woman attending.
Okay, I get that part, Paul.
But within these walls,
who... makes the rules?
You, sir. Youre the boss.
You just have to act like one. Sir.
You keep quiet.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Good morning.
This is Katherine Goble with our
Trajectory and Launch Window Division.
Her work is pertinent to
todays proceedings.
Come.
I'll get her a chair.
We have a confirmed
launch window..
- Give her your chair.
- Yes, sir.
We have a confirmed launch window for
friendship 7. Lets discuss a landing zone.
The Navy needs a singular landing zone.
20 miles square is what we can
service for retrieval.
Outside of that,
we risk the capsules recovery.
Wed like 3 possible recovery areas.
We cant cover half the damn ocean.
What I do respect
our capsules being altered daily.
Were orbiting the Earth at...
whats the speed now?
17,544 miles per hour.
At the time the rocket delivers the
capsule into low space orbit.
Thats one hell of a speeding ticket.
OK.
So we have the vehicle's speed,
the launch window and for arguments sake,
the landing zone is The Bahamas.
Should be enough to figure the Go/No Go?
- Yeah! In theory, sir.
- We need to be past theory at this point.
Well be able to calculate a
Go/No Go with that information.
When exactly is that gonna happen?
Katherine.
Have a go at it?
The Go point for re-entry
is 2,990 miles
from where we want Colonel Glenn to land.
If we assume thats The Bahamas.
At 17,544 miles per hour..
upon reentry..
370..
At a descent angle..
of 46.56 ..
degrees..
distance..
OK!
So, that puts the landing zone at...
25.0667 North,
77.3333 West.
Which is here!
Right here.
Give or take 20 square miles.
I like her numbers.
Thank you.
That of course is assuming the ..
capsule hits the reentry point exactly
How do we insure that?
Thats the math we dont
have yet, gentlemen.
Were working on it.
Katherine!
Whats it gonna take to make
this thing worth the price tag?
Were just getting up to speed here,
Mr. Harrison.
I need more man power.
I mean Programmers.
Folks to feed the cards.
Then get them, for crying out loud.
right?
- Youre the IBM man, right?
- Yes, sir.
Pull them out of the sky if you
have to, but lets get ahead of
- this thing. Or Im not paying you.
- I understand.
I got thoughts.
I got thoughts on it.
I'm not paying any of you!
- Me?
- Temporarily. Yes.
We need the IBM for Glenns launch.
The Lead Engineer says youre good
with the cards, programming and such.
What about the girls here?
Human computers cant calculate an
orbital flight in the time we have.
- Theyll stay put for now.
- What about after now?
After the Glenn launch, NASAs
dissolvin the Computing Groups.
Im not accepting reassignment.
Unless, I bring my ladies with me.
Excuse me?
Were going to need a lot of
manpower to program that beast.
I cant do it alone.
My girls are ready
They can do the work.
Ladies!
weve been reassigned.
Leave your calculators.
You wont need them where were going.
Welcome, ladies!
Do you know what your job is, Paul?
To find the genius among those geniuses.
To pull us all up.
We all get to the peak together,
or we.. dont get there at all.
Yes. Well.
Good night, sir.
I dont know what time
Im coming home.
The class ends at 9.
You get something to say?
Thought you might need these.
You can refill em with any weight
lead you want.
See? Just hit the tap like this.
A lead comes up.
You put the new lead in..
And.. New pencil!
You will make a fine engineer.
- You think so?
- Yes.
And nobody dare stand in the way of
Mary Jacksons dreams. Myself included.
- Dont make me mad again.
- Yes, ma'am.
Then, dont make me late either.
Then don't be late, I'm waiting!
Hi, gentlemen.
Tonight we discuss PlanckEinstein.
Where Planck relationships..
Yes?
Im Mary Jackson.
Im enrolled.
Well. The curriculum is not designed
for teaching... a woman.
Well, I imagine its the same as
teaching a man.
I dont see a colored section.
Should I just take any seat?
Thank you.
OK.
PlanckEinstein...
The problem is when the capsule moves
from an elliptical orbit to a parabolic orbit.
Theres no mathematical formula for that.
As we can calculate launch, landing
but without this conversion, the capsule
stays in orbit, we cant bring it home.
Maybe were thinking about this all wrong.
Hows that?
Maybe its not new math at all.
It could be old math.
Something that looks at the problem
numerically, and not theoretically
- Math is always dependable.
- For you it is.
Eulers Method.
- Eulers Method?
- Yes.
- Thats ancient.
- But it works!
It works numerically.
That's it!
Lets type it up.
Friendship 7: Launch, Landing
and Go/No Go Analysis
By: Paul Stafford
Dorothy.
Mrs. Mitchell.
Youre working late today.
The same is always happening that way
Yes.
Seems to.
Thank you.
I hear the IBM is at full capacity.
You certainly have a knack for it
My father taught me a thing or
two about mechanics.
You know, I have a few girls in the East Group
that have an interest in knowin more about it.
- It is the future.
- I may bring em by, if its all the same to you.
Thats not my decision. Ma'am.
That would be the supervisors.
Yes. Thats true.
Well.
Good night, Mrs. Mitchell.
You know, Dorothy...
Despite what you may think..
I have nothin against yall.
I know.
I know you probably believe that.
Goodnight, Katherine.
Good nigh!
- Mamma.
- Hey, baby!
Hi!
Hey!
Please don't tell me I miss
someone's birthday!
- No, you didn't!
- No, you didn't, mamma!
Madame...
Your seat.
Thank you!
Well, is it my birthday?
No, mamma.
You're all look so pretty!
Mamma!
What's going on?
Good evening, Katherine.
- So, you are not gonna say anything?
- It's not my place.
You, really?
Okay, Im not going to do this all night...
Oh, mother of mercy.
Thats for me?
Are you sad, Mamma?
- No! - Its okay, Mamma.
- Hes a good man.
I know.
I know. I just. I cant help it.
He hasnt even asked you yet.
I know, but he is..
You are, right?
If ya'll let me.
Go on. Shes already crying.
- This was my mothers ring.
- It is beautiful
- She and my father were married for..
- For 52 years.
I figure its about as lucky as a ring
as you can get.
The day I met you, I called my mother...
I said: "Mom!
I met the woman I want to marry."
Whatd she say?
She said: She must be something,
Jimmy. Really something.
Then what'd you say?
I said: "No, She is more than Something,
She is Everything."
I planned on this being more romantic.
Ill make that up to you real soon.
But I know marrying you..
includes me and the girls as well.
Amen to that.
I do.
- I didnt ask you yet.
- Hurry up!
No pain, please!
No, girls. No tears.
The Mercury Atlas Space vehicle,
which will putt John Glenn
the first American into Earth orbit,
has already undergone 5 unmanned
flight tests.
NASA has confirmed that the
IBM 790 data processing
system has been utilized to confirm all of the
mission's long and recovery system calculations.
The modification and equib-installation
are processing upon the schedule.
Them, Here!
- You wanted to see me, sir?
- Have a seat
Is there something wrong, Mr. Harrison?
No. Theres nothing wrong.
In fact our IBM is churning out numbers
in fractions of the time any human can
Present company included.
Thats good then.
Maybe.
The thing is, the Cape is now insisting on
doing all the backups down there. On site.
I see.
So, we wont be running backups here.
And truth be told, we cant keep up
with that IBM anyhow.
Long story short, we no longer need a..
computer in this department.
Progress is a double edged sword.
Lets have you report back
to the West Group for now.
- Ill see if we can find another assignment.
- Thank you, sir.
Katherine, Im..
I'm sorry about this
Its out of my hands, if you
can believe that.
I understand.
Katherine..
We heard you got engaged.
Yes.
Thats thoughtful of you.
- Oh, Dear! Lovely.
- Mr. Harrisons idea really.
Although I suspect his wife did
the picking out.
I cant imagine he has an eye
on anything but numbers..
Now, you have a great wedding.
You did good work around here, Katherine.
I dont think I felt a thing
the first time I did this.
It's so nervous.
- This is beautiful than you were back then.
- You think so?
Just a little older.
And a little fuller...
But you look good.
- Here we go!
- Again!
February 20, 1962
Jon Glenn's Launch
That'a girl!
.. And Colonel John Glenn,will be
the first American to orbit the Earth.
As you can see, there are thousands of
people here to witness this history today..
Something is off here. These landing
coordinates dont match yesterdays.
Let's see.
The IBM just ran them.
Then the IBM was wrong yesterday, right?
Goddamn! I think it's wrong today.
Paul, Am I right?
- It appears so.
Cape Canaveral
The IBM has been spot on up to this point, John.
but well run it again,
to see what it comes up with.
I'll be ass with you..
When I fly, I fly the machine,
Right now, it seems like this machine
is flying me.
Were on the same page, John.
The guys are wrong in it.
Lets get the girl to check the numbers.
- The girl?
- Yes, sir.
- You mean Katherine?
- Yes, sir. The smart one.
If she says theyre good,
Im ready to go.
- All right. Well get into it.
- Roger!
Sam!
Go find find Katherine Goble.
She needs to verify Glenns Go/No Go
or well stay on the ground.
Yes, sir.
Im looking for Katherine Goble?!
- I'm Katherine Johnson now.
- They need you to verify these coordinates.
All right.
Give them some space to work.
A truly historic day for America..
The country has waited for several months,
Through many failed unmanned rocket tests
and then scheduled manned tasks,
which were canceled for various
mechanical or system complications.
All the final tests and checks are being conducted,
John Glenn is ready to board the Friendship 7.
- Anything from Langley?
- Not yet.
After years of waiting, and NASA delays,
John Glen is finally ready for that space..
- We are still going.
- Yes, sir.
That's it.
What the devil you're doing?
Are you taking a break?
Can I see the time?
Sir.
Pad 14.
Katherine!
Come on!
Sir, weve got Pad 14 on the box.
Get them in here.
This is Langley.
We have the coordinates confirmed.
Standby, then.
We can confirm the Go/No Go
point for re-entry is..
16.11984 degrees latitude
-165.2356 degrees longitude.
The launch window is a go.
The landing coordinates match.
That's very good news, Al.
It's a little hard to trust something
you cant look in the eyes.
Thats right, Colonel.
Katherine did manage to calculate
a few decimal points further than that
hunk of metal.
Well, Ill take every digit ya got.
Be sure to thank her for me.
- Gentlemen! Let's launch this rocket.
- Good luck, Friendship 7.
God speed, Langley.
...Unit Cape Canaveral, and the countdown
has resumed. as Colonel John Glenn
is now aboard Friendship 7,
high above the Atlas rocket on Pan 14.
A height of over 93 feet ..
These pictures of Cape Canaveral flight
off. Mech-entry is now moving back.
Here were go for launch.
The Mercury Spacecraft is all its way out.
T-minus.
10 seconds, and counti'.
8.. 7.. 6.. 5..
4.. 3.. 2..
1.. Zero.
Ignition.
Its getting bumpy along here.
Roger that.
You are in Max Q.
Roger.
Keep countin'
Twenty seconds to SECO.
- The trajectory is still be "OK".
- Go for SECO.
Zero G. And I feeling fine.
John Glenn reports everything looks good!
Oh, that view is tremendous.
Roger, that, Friendship 7.
- You are go for orbit.
- Thanks you, Capcom!
All right. 10.5 hours to go.
If we make 7 round trips.
I do need a coffee.
Well, as you focus on today,
here on the Eastern seaboard..
Colonel Glenn is just beginning
his third orbit.
Three coordinates of the way
across the African continent.
We see he is currently over Zanzibar, which
is the next tracking station coming up.
Thankfully the Friendship 7 capsule is..
New assignment came down the pike.
Always changin round here.
It's hard to keep up.
IBM Computing Lab.
Position: Supervisor
Seems like theyre gonna need
a permanent team to feed that IBM
- How big of a team?
- 30 to start.
Thank you for the information,
Mrs. Mitchell.
Youre quite welcome... Mrs. Vaughan.
Heat Shield
We have a warning light!
Capcom 7,
I have a warning light.
Standby, 7.
Sir, we have a warning light!
- What are you looking at, Paul?
- The heat shield may have come loose.
7, will you confirm the landing
bag is in the OFF position?
Affirmative, Capcom.
We need to get him down, now
He could burn up on re-entry.
Come on, babies!
Theres a man in space. We dont want to
miss it, so we gonna home.
Somethings wrong with Glenn.
- Oh, my Goodness!
- What's going on?
- Let's go.
- Ya'll follow me.
Weve just learned, the Friendship 7..
is in danger of losing its heat shield.
Have you heard any banging noises?
or anything of this type at higher rates?
Thats a negative, Capcom.
Tell them not to jettison
the retro-package.
Tell him not to jettison
the retro-package.
NASA is confirming this is some sort of
malfunction with the capsules heat shield,
and it may not stay in place.
If the heat shield is loose... The retro-
package straps might hold it in place.
- Will that work?
- It will work.
It will hold it until he reaches the
Go /No Go point. It will work!
He has to override the 05g.
Do it.
Friendship 7...
Were recommending that the retro-package
NOT, I repeat, NOT be jettisoned.
This means that you will have
to override the 05g switch.
Roger!
Is this a reason for this? Over.
Standby, 7.
Not this time, 7.
Roger, that command.
Ill have to make a manual 05g entry,
and bring the scope in.
Over.
He knows.
Without a heat shield,
theres no way that Colonel Glenn
can get back through
the Earths atmosphere.
The heat is simply too overpowering.. and
might function the automatic control system...
You're going to use
fly-by-wire for reentry.
Youll need to maintain a zero angle.
Over. Over?
Roger. I'm on fly-by-wire,
back-it up with manual. Over.
Keep talking to him.
Roger. The weather in the recovery area:
3 foot waves, 10 miles visibility.
Can't get'm.
Are you are getting out now?
Hes crossing the
communication black-out zone.
Theres a real fireball outside,
and it's getting too hot here!
Friendship 7.
Do you copy? Over.
Again.
Friendship 7.
Do you copy? Over.
Friendship 7. Do you copy? Over.
Loud and clear, Capcom.
Roger that.
How are you doing?
My condition is good.
But that was a real fireball, boy
Roger that.
Lets get you all the way home.
Roger that.
Heres hoping these landing coords still hold.
Approaching 16.11984.
- Roger that!
- Approaching -165.2356. In 3, 2, 1.
Engaging chutes.
Beautiful chutes.
How do I look, Capcom?
Your Go/No Go is good.
Landing coordinates are spot on, 7.
Roger that, Capcom.
I've Always wanted to swim in
the Bahamas. Over.
John Glenn has splashed-down,
and is being recovered.
John Glenn has splashed-down safely.
and is being recovered by US Navy.
Katherine!
- Nice work.
- You too, Mr. Harrison.
So..
You think we will get to the moon?
We're already there, sir.
John Glenn successfully completed three of
a scheduled seven orbit flight.
His Friendship 7 Mission turned the tide in
the space race, propelling NASA to the moon
in 1969.
Mary Jackson became NASA's.. and American
first female African-American aeronautical engineer.
In 1979, she was appointed Langley's Woman's
Program Manager, where she fought to advance
women of all colors.
Girls..... This is Mrs. Vaughan.
Your supervisor.
- Shell show you how things work.
- Yeah! Come here.
Dorothy Vaughan became NASA's
first African-American supervisor.
As a FORTRAN specialist, on the frontier of
electronic computing, she was regarded as one of
the most brilliant minds at NASA.
Notes on Space Technology
By: Paul Stafford and Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson went on perform
calculations for the Apollo II mission to the
moon and Space Shuttle.
In 2016, NASA dedicated the Katherine G. Johnson
Computational Building in honor of her
groundbreaking work in space travel.
At the age of 97, Katherine was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.. and celebrated
her 56th anniversary with Jim Johnson.