NASA’s Johnson Space Center honors first Black manager Dorothy Vaughan with new building

NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has named a new building after its first Black manager, Dorothy Vaughan.

Building 12 was named the “Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of the Women of Apollo” in honor of the legendary Black mathematician and the women who made humanity’s first steps on the moon possible. A panel discussion highlighting the diverse and significant contributions women have made to human spaceflight and a ribbon-cutting ceremony  celebrated the pioneers achievements.

“On behalf of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, we are proud to host this historic event as the agency honors the significant contributions women have made to the space industry, particularly trailblazers who persevered against many challenges of their era. As we prepare to return to the Moon for long-term science and exploration, NASA’s Artemis missions will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. It’s a privilege to dedicate Johnson’s Building 12 to the innovative women who laid the foundation to our nation’s space program,” said Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson Director.

Vaughan’s 28 year NASA career began in 1943. She left her role as a math teacher in Virginia to work at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory during World War II. The executive order ending racial, religious and ethnic discrimination in the defense industry had only been signed two years prior.

Although the lab began hiring Black women for aeronautical research data, Jim Crow laws required that they work separately from their white coworkers. The women were assigned to the segregated “West Area Computing” unit where they were required to use separate dining and bathroom facilities.

The section heads were initially white. This changed when Vaughan was promoted to lead the group in 1949, becoming the NACA’s first black supervisor and one of the few female supervisors.

She headed the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA’s) segregated West Area Computing Unit for nearly 10 years, collaborating with other human computers and section heads on projects such as compiling a handbook for algebraic methods for calculating machines.

When the NACA transitioned to NASA and abolished the segregated facilities, Vaughan and many of her colleagues joined the new racially and gender-integrated Analysis and Computation Division. She became an expert FORTRAN programmer and contributed to the Scout Launch Vehicle Program. Vaughan retired from NASA in 1971.

Her leadership and advocacy helped advance NASA’s missions and pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the space industry.