The Cherokee Mathematician Who Helped Design America’s Space Age – While Much Of Her Work Remained Secret

The handbook was addressed to a future that was possible but not certain.

This is the nature of the most important preparatory technical work.

You do the mathematics before the mission so the mission becomes possible.

You build the reference framework before the engineers need it so it is there when they need it.

You work on the trajectory calculations for Mars in 1961 so that when the first serious Mars mission is being planned in the 1970s, the mathematical foundations are already laid.

Mary Ross was doing work of that kind.