Meta description: Annie Easley biography covers her NASA career as a mathematician, computer scientist, and rocket scientist, with 10 facts, key dates, and her Centaur rocket work.
Who Was Annie Easley?
Annie Easley was an African American computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist who worked for NASA’s Lewis Research Center, now Glenn Research Center, and its predecessor, NACA. She was a leading member of the team that developed software for the Centaur rocket stage.
What Are the 10 Key Facts About Annie Easley?
Annie Easley has 10 key biographical facts:
- Annie Jean Easley was born on April 23, 1933, in Birmingham, Alabama.
- She graduated as class valedictorian from her Birmingham high school.
- She studied pharmacy at Xavier University.
- She read a newspaper story about NACA computers in 1955.
- She was hired as the fourth Black employee in the Lewis Research Center’s 2,500-person workforce.
- She moved from human computer to computer programmer.
- She contributed programming work to the Centaur upper-stage rocket.
- She earned a B.S. in mathematics from Cleveland State University in 1977.
- She retired from NASA in 1989.
- She died on June 25, 2011, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Where Was Annie Easley Born and Educated?
Annie Easley was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended schools there from fifth grade through high school. She graduated as class valedictorian. Her mother told her she could be anything, but she would have to work at it.
Her higher education included 2 institutions:
- Xavier University, where she majored in pharmacy.
- Cleveland State University, where she earned a B.S. in mathematics in 1977.
NASA sponsored additional specialized courses after she earned her degree.
How Did Annie Easley Join NASA?
Annie Easley joined NACA in 1955 after reading a newspaper article about twin sisters who worked there as computers. The article described the sisters’ work at the Lewis laboratory in Cleveland. She moved to Cleveland after her husband, Theodis Easley, finished military service in 1954. She applied the day after reading the article and was hired.
Before moving, she returned to Birmingham in 1954 and helped Black residents prepare for the literacy test then required to vote.
What Was Annie Easley’s Role in the Centaur Rocket Program?
Annie Easley developed programming code that supported analysis and mission planning for the Centaur upper-stage rocket. Centaur was the first rocket stage to use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants.
A May 8, 1962, Atlas-Centaur launch exploded 54 seconds after liftoff. Easley served on the Lewis team assigned to fix the Centaur’s design. Centaur first launched successfully in 1963. Centaur rockets later carried the Voyager, Pioneer, Viking, and Cassini space probes.
What Other Work Did Annie Easley Do at NASA?
Annie Easley worked on 4 areas besides Centaur: nuclear rocket systems, energy research, equal opportunity, and outreach.
- She worked on nuclear-powered rocket systems in the late 1960s and 1970s.
- She developed code that analyzed alternative power technologies, including solar and wind projects, and identified energy conversion systems.
- She served as the Lewis Equal Employment Opportunity officer and investigated discrimination complaints.
- She belonged to the Lewis Speakers Bureau and tutored school children and returning high-school dropouts.
She also founded the NASA Lewis Ski Club and served as its first president.
What Challenges Did Annie Easley Face at NASA?
Annie Easley faced racial and gender barriers during a 34-year NASA career. Women and minorities in STEM fields encountered systemic obstacles during that period. She was one of about 4 African Americans on staff at the start of her career. Her later work as an Equal Employment Opportunity counselor addressed discrimination based on race, gender, and age.
When and How Did Annie Easley Die?
Annie Easley died on June 25, 2011, in Cleveland, Ohio. The cause was natural causes. She was 78 years old.
What Is Annie Easley’s Legacy?
Annie Easley’s legacy centers on her software contributions to the Centaur rocket and her role as one of the first African American computer scientists at NASA. She was among the first African Americans to work as a computer scientist at NASA. Her code supported the Centaur rocket and other projects, including the 1997 Cassini launch. The Glenn Hall of Fame inducted her posthumously in 2015.
NASA conducted a 55-page oral history interview with her in Cleveland on August 21, 2001.
What Are the Key Dates in Annie Easley’s Life?
Table 1 lists 8 dated events in Annie Easley’s biography. Columns show the date, the event, and the location.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| April 23, 1933 | Birth of Annie Jean Easley | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1954 | Voter literacy test preparation work | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1955 | Hired at the NACA Lewis laboratory | Cleveland, Ohio |
| May 8, 1962 | Atlas-Centaur launch failure | Cape Canaveral, Florida |
| 1963 | First successful Centaur launch | Cape Canaveral, Florida |
| 1977 | B.S. in mathematics from Cleveland State University | Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1989 | Retirement from NASA | Cleveland, Ohio |
| June 25, 2011 | Death from natural causes | Cleveland, Ohio |
People Also Ask
What is Annie Easley known for?
Annie Easley is known for her contributions to NASA’s early rocket technologies, especially the Centaur rocket program.
Where was Annie Easley born?
Annie Easley was born in Birmingham, Alabama.
How long did Annie Easley work at NASA?
Annie Easley worked at NASA for 34 years.
What did Annie Easley study in college?
Annie Easley earned a B.S. in mathematics from Cleveland State University in 1977.
What rocket did Annie Easley work on?
Annie Easley worked on the Centaur upper-stage rocket.
When did Annie Easley die?
Annie Easley died on June 25, 2011.
Why Is Annie Easley Known as a Computer Scientist, Mathematician, and Rocket Scientist?
Annie Easley is known for 3 roles: computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist. Her work moved from manual calculation to programming for the Centaur rocket. Her 34-year NASA career spanned rocket systems, energy research, and equal opportunity work.