Barbara Canright
Barbara Canright was an American human computer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was the first female mathematician to be employed. Canright joined the team in 1939 as a human computer, which required "Teams of people who were frequently used to undertake long and often tedious calculations; the work was divided so that this could be done in parallel." During her time at the JPL program she was instrumental in calculating both the thrust-to-weight ratio for performance of engines under various conditions, and the potential of rocket propellant. Canright was critical in the development of the JPL program and laid the foundations for other women to work in a field which was previously closed off to them.
Early life and education
Canright was born on November 12, 1919, in Iowa during the midst of the American Roaring 20's. Canright was an exceptionally smart student during high-school and took upper-level classes, most notably in math and Chemistry. She met her future husband, Richard Canright, when they were both undergrads at Miami University of Ohio, where her father was a Professor and dean of students. After eloping when she was 19 and he was 21, they moved to Pasadena for Richard to attend graduate school at Caltech. Before joining JPL, Canright worked as a typist while attending college at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Canright graduated from Occidental College in 1940.Career
In 1939 the National Academy of Sciences approached Caltech's Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory with a grant for Rocket Research of $1,000. The next year, the U.S. government invested $10,000 into the program, which prompted the group to hire outside help.One of the men who started JPL, Frank Malina, approached Barbara and Richard Canright for positions as mathematicians. Both Barbara and Richard accepted the positions which made Barbara the only female employee at JPL at the time. During her time at JPL, Canright calculated thrust from rocket engines and analyzed the data to increase performance. One of JPL's, and Canright's, crowning achievements was the successful use of rockets for bomber aircraft.
After the successful development of jet propulsion bombers, JPL shifted its focus to designing a rocket which would reach a higher altitude than a helium-filled balloon. Canright, along with Melba Nead, Virginia Prettyman, and Macie Roberts, were responsible for calculating the potential of rocket propellants. During this period, Canright her husband Richard were introduced to Agape Lodge of Ordo Templi Orientis by JPL co-founder Jack Parsons. They became students and followers of Thelema, a religious movement started by Aleister Crowley. They were both initiated into the Order at Agape Lodge on July 18, 1942.
In 1943, after the success of designing and testing of a rocket propellant, Canright became pregnant with her first child. Due to the unavailability of maternity leave in 1943, Canright had to resign.