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It was April 13, 1970, and a message came from Apollo 13 on its route to the moon.
It was April 13, 1970, and a message came from Apollo 13 on its route to the moon.
"Houston, we've had a problem." said John Swigert, Command Module Pilot and soon after repeated by Mission Commander James Lovell.
"Houston, we've had a problem." said John Swigert, Command Module Pilot and soon after repeated by Mission Commander James Lovell.
We all have those words stuck into our memory. It was a historical moment that suddenly turned into a drama.
We all have those words stuck into our memory. It was a historical moment that suddenly turned into a drama.
If we travel back in time less than one year, we will discover another very important moment in our history. August 28, 1969 is the date that Thomas Jacob Black was born. He would grow up to be the famous actor Jack Black.
If we travel back in time less than one year, we will discover another very important moment in our history. August 28, 1969 is the date that Thomas Jacob Black was born. He would grow up to be the famous actor Jack Black.
How are these two events related? Jack Black's mother was Judith Love Cohen and at that same day, she was working as an aerospace engineer for Space Technology Laboratories turned Northrop Grumman today, a contractor for NASA, working on the Abort Guidance System in the Lunar Excursion Module of the Apollo Program. At that time, she was one of the only 0.05% of women engineers in the United States. She was so dedicated to her work that, even pregnant and about to have a baby, she took a printout of the problem she was working on the Abort Guidance System to the hospital. She finalized her calculations, and she informed her boss about the solution, moments before she entered labor to have Jack Black.
How are these two events related? Jack Black's mother was Judith Love Cohen and at that same day, she was working as an aerospace engineer for Space Technology Laboratories turned Northrop Grumman today, a contractor for NASA, working on the Abort Guidance System in the Lunar Excursion Module of the Apollo Program. At that time, she was one of the only 0.05% of women engineers in the United States. She was so dedicated to her work that, even pregnant and about to have a baby, she took a printout of the problem she was working on the Abort Guidance System to the hospital. She finalized her calculations, and she informed her boss about the solution, moments before she entered labor to have Jack Black.
Less than one year later, after that famous "mayday" message from Apollo 13, it was the Abort Guidance System that helped save the three astronauts, James Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise. When the power failed in the Command Module, they used the Abort Guidance System as a backup computer to navigate their way back to Earth.
Less than one year later, after that famous "mayday" message from Apollo 13, it was the Abort Guidance System that helped save the three astronauts, James Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise. When the power failed in the Command Module, they used the Abort Guidance System as a backup computer to navigate their way back to Earth.
She also contributed to the Hubble Space Telescope program. Her contribution enabled real-time controls to focus, change filters, plan observations and collect images. She herself explained that she added these capabilities by listening to the astronomers who would be using the Hubble. She wa also involved in colorizing the images collected through the various filters resulting in incredible images of galaxies in deep space.
She also contributed to the Hubble Space Telescope program. Her contribution enabled real-time controls to focus, change filters, plan observations and collect images. She herself explained that she added these capabilities by listening to the astronomers who would be using the Hubble. She wa also involved in colorizing the images collected through the various filters resulting in incredible images of galaxies in deep space.
Even in retirement, Judith Love Cohen continued her work in sciences by writing books that encouraged young girls to study in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Even in retirement, Judith Love Cohen continued her work in sciences by writing books that encouraged young girls to study in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Judith Love Cohen died at the age of 82, on July 25, 2016.
Judith Love Cohen died at the age of 82, on July 25, 2016.
Bibliography Primary Sources:
Reel America: Apollo 13: Houston, We've Got a Problem; American History TV C-SPAN
Judith Love Cohen; Judith Love Cohen "The Apollo Moon Landing"; David Katz YouTube Channel
Judith Love Cohen; Judith Love Cohen "The Hubble Space Telescope"; David Katz YouTube Channel
Bibliography Secondary Sources:
"Houston, we've had a problem" spoken from space; ABC 13 Eyewitness News
Black Jack; IMDb
Kaleena Fraga; How Aerospace Engineer Judith Love Cohen Broke Barriers And Helped Save Apollo 13; March 18, 2024; ati
Judith Love Cohen photo from Wikipedia
Kiona N. Smith; The Women Who Helped Make Apollo 11's Giant Leap For Mankind; July 19, 2019; Forbes
Amanda Maxwell; Judith Love Cohen and the Female Engineers of Tomorrow; November 19, 2021; Now from Northrop Grumman
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