Women In Space Laboratories

Press, Volume C, Issue 29626, 23 September 1961, Page 2

Women In Space Laboratories

In the masculine, world of the United States’ space laboratories women are infiltrating into the space business.

In the once totally masculine digital computing centre of the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, at Palo Alto California, for instance, there are now 102 women on the day shift alone —one woman to every three men. The flight sciences section, where the Agenas, Discoverers and Polarises are put through their electronic paces, opens its guarded doors each morning to 61 women—about one-sixth of the staff. Even the difficult field of research physics, where the working tools of chalk and blackboard are forming tomorrow’s spacecraft, has been invaded by women—l 4 of them. About 148 male scientists, however, continue to hold the fort.

In a reecnt speech before an all-woman audience, the

company’s director of research, Dr. John Nash, said: “When the emphasis is on brain-power rather than horse-power, there can no longer be a group identified as the weaker sex. Salary Grade “There is no discernible difference in salary grade distribution between male and female employees in these (technical and professional) classifications.” he added. Perhaps the whole thing is summed up in the official name women technicians have given their own organisation—Women in Space. One of the objectives, sponsored by the company, is to counsel girls in high schools throughout the country in a science-space career.

So the invasion seems to be only a beginning. Women In Space will grow in numbers.

Together with the women, senior girl students from local high schools comprised the research director’s

audience, filling an auditorium at the big space laboratory.

More than a few women Ph.D.’s are working side by side with their Ph.D. husbands on the same spacescience projects. Graduate Study Programme The company has long had a graduate study programme to help promising young people complete academic work in the sciences. To date, six young women have received advanced degrees and two are finishing their studies.

The company provides support through part-time employment and payment of tuition expenses. Women, it seems, are in space work to stay.