Student Article

The Apollo program, which famously landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969, would not have succeeded without the dedication of countless women. Although no women set foot on the lunar surface, their engineering, programming, and problem-solving skills were essential.

Launching Apollo 11

JoAnn Morgan was the only woman working in the Launch Control Center during Apollo 11. As an instrumentation controller, she monitored the rocket’s systems. Her expertise ensured the successful launch, despite the overwhelming male presence in her field.

Saving the Moon landing

Meanwhile, Margaret Hamilton, a software engineer at MIT, led the team that developed the Apollo spacecraft’s guidance system. Her code prevented the lander from crashing during an unexpected overload, making the Moon landing possible.

Bringing Apollo 13 home

Another key player was Judith Love Cohen, an engineer who designed the Abort Guidance System. During Apollo 13, when the service module exploded, this system became the astronauts’ lifeline, guiding them back to Earth.

Sewing spacesuits by hand

Women also played a vital role in creating the spacesuits. The seamstresses at ILC Dover, who had previously worked on making girdles, were tasked with hand-sewing the suits. Each stitch had to be flawless, as a single mistake could risk an astronaut’s life.

Well-deserved credit

Despite their vital roles, women were kept from becoming Apollo astronauts. The Mercury 13, a group of female pilots who passed NASA’s astronaut tests, were denied the chance to fly. Their exclusion reflected the gender barriers of the time. Today, the women of the Apollo program are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Their work laid the foundation for future generations of female scientists, engineers, and astronauts.

© Sue Nelson / Our Media