Barbara Canright, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Barbara Canright

American human computer

Date of Birth: 12-Nov-1920

Place of Birth: Iowa, United States

Date of Death: 17-Sep-1997

Profession: mathematician, human computer

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Barbara "Barby" Canright (Born St.
John) was a former American human computer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) 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 (which would be used by the U.S.
Navy).
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.