Rise of the Rocket Girls

The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars

De: Nathalia Holt

Narrado por: Erin Bennett

The riveting true story of the women who launched America into space.

In the 1940s and '50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn't turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an elite group of young women who, with only pencil, paper, and mathematical prowess, transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible.

For the first time, Rise of the Rocket Girls tells the stories of these women - known as "human computers" - who broke the boundaries of both gender and science. Based on extensive research and interviews with all the living members of the team, Rise of the Rocket Girls offers a unique perspective on the role of women in science: both where we've been and the far reaches of space to which we're heading.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Nathalia Holt (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Engaging history...a fresh contribution to women's history." ( Kirkus)

"The immediacy of Holt's writing makes readers feel as if they're alongside the women during their first view of Jupiter, and beyond." (Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal)

"I stole sleep to finish this book and was happy to do so. I admire how Holt gives voice to a group of important (and lesser-known) female scientists who have in the past been overshadowed by their male counterparts. The domestic and the scientific are elegantly rendered - it is an impressive contribution to American history and I was sad to turn the last page." (TaraShea Nesbit, best-selling author of The Wives of Los Alamos)

Exciting Science, Inspirational Women!

This book really reminded me of my sister: this is about women who can find the design of the Universe in a flower, in the mathematics involved in each of these. These women are the dreamiest kind of artists, and are brilliant!
From the first woman hooking up with The Suicide Squad (who will become the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) through to the longest serving woman member of NASA, "Rise of the Rocket Girls" follows each computer... she who computes... on her journey through changing science, through the changes within our societal structure. I couldn't devour this audiobook fast enough, and I'm listening to it again.
While the science of it can be thorough and daunting, it's so well-written that even I, a different kind of dreamy artist, could follow well enough and could be inspired. It made looking up at the heavens a whole new kind of fun.
Erin Bennett's narration can be a bit officious at times, shows just the tiniest lack of emotion that makes it the tiniest short of a 5-star merit, but she does a great job and doesn't go overboard on the vocal variations in an attempt to make each woman unique. The women are who they are, and their words and lives speak for themselves.
Now if you'll excuse me, as I'm listening to this again, I have to go back to it. I'm at The Sixties, and that was a helluva time for space exploration!

Inspiring

I have heard about these women at JPL for years and am so glad to have the opportunity to learn more about them. The Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) started in the 1930s by a group of male rocket engineers on the campus of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. A group of woman called human computers was responsible for the math involved. The women had degrees in math, physics, chemistry and engineering but were having trouble finding a job after graduation until JPL hired them in the 1940 and 50s.

Holt provides the reader a look into the lives of these remarkable women as well as the history of rocket science. Remember all the math was done by hand in the days before computers. The book is easy to read and full of fascinating details about discoveries that these women made. I noted that the women continued their education via Caltech courses going on to obtain advance degrees in engineering and computer science. They embraced the early IBM computers and learned to program them learning FORTRAN and other coding languages, they also participated as authors in the published scientific reports. When NASA started dissolving the human computers the women at JPL were just reclassified as engineers and continued working. Of course they did not receive the same pay.

In 1958 JPL became part of the new agency called NASA. JPL is managed for NASA by Caltech since 1958 and all JPLers are Caltech employees. I noted Holt stated more women work today as scientist and engineers at JPL than any other NASA Center. Holt also said women have more opportunities in science and engineering at JPL than any other public or private facility, primarily due to the high standard of work by women in this story. Erin Bennett does a good job narrating the book. This is a must read for all young women.

much more boring than I thought

It started out interesting and informative then got way off into who married who and had how many kids and seemed to constantly get off the main story.

great piece of history

I've always been intrigued with the story of space exploration. The book filled in a hidden but essential part of the story. Very entertainingly written and well-read.

very interesting

the information presented in this book it's totally out of this world. would listen to another book about this subject the way this one was written anytime. the author was great and the read was excellent.

Inspirational and Uplifting

I am sure that many folks have held this book up as an inspiration to young women everywhere but I would like to say that as a once retired white male engineer, this book was as uplifting as any book I have read. The courage, persistence, attention to detail, the desire to live fulfilling lives and the conviction to make life more meaningful for their peers is nothing short of awesome. The actions of these women are so admirable, their stories lift all of us.

Rise

great history of JPL and unmanned Space exploration. A new addendum needs to be added to bring to today.

Educational

it was a good story however the narrator was monotonous. it was very educational because there are a lot of things I did learn. However, I was glad that it wasn't a long story and that it was over quickly.

One of the best books I’ve read

This book was not only very informative, giving you a glimpse into the space program, but inspiring as well. I recommend it for anyone, but especially young women.

Women in Science

Similar to Hidden Figures and The Code Girls. Same time frame WWII cold War era. But these are different women. Based at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena facing similar problems of women working in a man's world.But this group was more educated and followed them as they had children and raised families. I always wonder where the world would be if men hadn't suppressed half of the population and refused them education. You read about what these small groups of women did when the need was there and I just wonder. What breakthroughs in science and medicine could have been reached if we hadn't suppressed women through the ages.

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