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"NASA Heroes and Sheroes" represents the contributions, achievements, and memory of Black astronauts, designers, and mathematicians who were critical to the success of the space program at NASA.

Featured in the painting are the women mathematicians who served a critical role at NASA as “human computers” in the early part of the space program. Although their work was vital, their work was underrecognized (and mostly unknown to the general public) until the popular movie “Hidden Figures” was released in 2016. The painting also represents Mae Jemison, the first female Black astronaut.

Two of the figures represent the Black astronauts lost in the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia accident. Space Shuttle astronauts Ronald McNair and Michael Anderson are represented as angels. Peter Robinson, the Director of Design and Presentations during the Apollo program, is also featured in the painting. His contributions at NASA as a designer during the Apollo era is not widely known.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date 2019 Type ART-Paintings Medium Painting, Acrylic on Canvas Artist Hubert Jackson
 Physical Description Painting depicts various African-American men and women involved in NASA's space program including astronauts, mathematicians, and engineers. Acrylic on canvas, unglaized, recessed in silver-painted wood frame. Heavy texturing and layering in areas. Dimensions 2-D - In Frame (H x W x D): 130.2 × 104.8 × 6cm (4 ft. 3 1/4 in. × 3 ft. 5 1/4 in. × 2 3/8 in.)
2-D - Unframed (H x W): 127 × 101.6 × 3.5cm (4 ft. 2 in. × 3 ft. 4 in. × 1 3/8 in.)
 Inventory Number A20210398000 Credit Line Gift of Barbara E. Brennan Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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