Makers Women In Space Analysis

The documentary, Makers: Women in Space, portrays the history of women pioneers in the U.S space program. When the space program first came to be in the 1950s, women had to overcome many obstacles in order to prove to NASA and society that they are capable of doing anything, especially within the space program. The documentary goes in depth into the problems, struggles, and perseverance of these women astronauts.

Today, it is very common to have a variety of people become astronauts and work for NASA. Although, back in the late 1950s it was a struggle for many to be accepted into the space program, especially women. When women were first working in the space program, they were simply computer technicians, engineers, or secretaries.

Still being a long process, things began to shift in the late 1960s when the first man was to land on the moon. He managed to get back to Earth thanks to a female systems engineer, Poppy Northcutt, who established equations on how to get astronauts from the moon back to Earth. She was the first women in the NASA staff room and the only to help all throughout Apollo. During the 1970s, NASA finally reached it’s peak in including women because other corporations and companies began opening things up to women due to the impacts of women movements, political pressure, and the fear of possible lawsuits. Also, advanced technology made space orbit a better, safer routine. Therefore, women and minorities were finally wanted by NASA. In fact, Michelle Nichols, an African American woman, became the face of NASA in order to bring in women and minorities. Then in 1973 with a team of 35 astronauts about to go into space, 6 of them were women. This was a huge milestone for women in society, but the press seemed to ask questions about the women’s families and responsibilities at home. They never wanted to ask them about their job, what NASA was doing, and their accomplishments. Finally, after years of training, in 1982 Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly into space. She couldn’t believe all of the hype and press she was receiving because she quotes, “women in this country can do any