Marianne Dyson STS-4 Entry Team FAO

Women in Mission Control

Space Shuttle Program

I generated the list below as part of my book: A Passion for Space. The list is based on personal interviews and NASA press releases of Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR) staffing up through the 25th Space Shuttle flight (i.e. 51-L, the Challenger disaster). I did not include any ground tests or the Shuttle Approach and Landing tests (1977) because staffing charts were not available. I also didn't include a list of women who worked as flight controllers in support positions, but as more information becomes available, I hope to add such a list in the future.

This list is for Johnson Space Center only and does NOT include launch controllers at Kennedy Space Center. The International Women's Air & Space museum lists JoAnn Morgan as the first woman launch controller.

Some positions were listed on the staffing charts as being in the MOCR, but were later moved to a support room or folded into some other position. Any position listed as being a MOCR position was "counted" (such as Aero and Command) as long as it was on the published staffing chart. For women who worked the same flight, the Ascent Team members are listed ahead of the other teams, and otherwise, in alphabetical order by last name. Most women worked multiple flights, but are only listed for their first appearance in the front room.

Female Flight Controllers

Space Shuttle

• 1. Sharon R. Tilton - Surgeon, STS-1 (Ascent team)
• 2. Lizabeth (Betsy) H. Cheshire - Computer Command (MOCR position STS-1 & 2), STS-1 (Entry team)
• 3. Anngienetta (Angie) R. Johnson - Payloads, STS-2 (Ascent team). First black woman.
• 4. Linda G. Horowitz - Aerodynamics (MOCR position STS 1-5), STS-2 (Orbit team)
• 5.* Sally K. Ride - Capcom, STS-2 (Orbit team)
• 6. Carolynn L. Conley - FAO, STS-3 (Ascent team)
• 7. Ellen L. Schulman - Surgeon, STS-3 (Ascent team)
• 8. Marianne J. Dyson - FAO, STS-4 (Entry team)
• 9. Jenny Howard - Booster, STS-5 (Orbit team)
• 10. Carolyn H. Blacknall - OIO, STS-5 (Entry team)
• 11. Mary L. Cleave - Capcom, STS-6 (Planning team)
• 12. Kathryn A. Havens - Upper Stage (MOCR position STS-6), STS-6 (Planning team)
• 13. Cheevon (Mi-Mi) B. Lau - FAO, STS-6 (Entry team)
• 14. Debbie T. Pawkett - Payloads, STS-7 (Orbit team)
• 15. Gayle K. Weber - Guidance, STS-7 (Planning team)
• 16. Michele A. Brekke - Payloads, STS-8 (Orbit 1 team)
• (No new firsts on STS-9, STS-41-B, or STS-41-C)
• 17. Linda M. Godwin, Payloads, STS-41-D
• 18. Karen F. Ehlers - FAO, STS-41G (13) (Planning team)
• 19. Barbara N. Pearson - EECOM, STS-41G (13) (Planning team)
• 20. Linda P. Patterson - GNC, STS-51A (14)
• (Missing data for DOD flight STS-51-C, no new firsts on STS-51-D)
• 21. Diane L. Freeman - FAO, STS- 51-B (Orbit 2)
• 22. Linda J. Hautzinger (Ham) - Prop, STS-51-B (Orbit 2)
• 23. Sharon B. Castle - Payloads, STS-51-B (Orbit 3)
• 24. Billie Deason - PAO, STS-51-G
• 25. Janet K. Ross - PAO, STS-51-G
• 26. Patricia A. Santy - Surgeon, STS-51-F
• 27. Barbara A. Schwartz - FAO, STS-51-I
• 28. Karen M. Alig (Engelauf)- FAO, STS-51-J
• 29. Shannon W. Lucid - Capcom, STS-61-A (D1) (Orbit 1)
• 30. Kathy V. Cannon - Payloads, STS-61-A (D1) (Orbit 3)
• 31. Anne F. Ellis - FAO, 61A (D1) (Orbit 3)
• (No new firsts on STS-61-B or STS-51-L)
  * I mistakenly listed Janis Plesums as #5 in the book, but Janis (pronounced Yaw ness) is a man.

Author's note: I invite any of you who participated in the early space program with information about women in flight control to contact me. I'd love to hear more about the historical contributions of women, and would also appreciate scans of any photos!

1981 Mission Operations Women

1981 Mission Operations Women L to R, Row 1: Robin Cobbs, E.M. Eav, Rowena Burns, Maridene Lemmon, Iva Doyle, Monica Davis, Mindy J. Cohen, Cadie Howard; Row 2: Anne Fox, Elaine Hilliard, Marianne Dyson, Anne Flippin, Panna Amin, Ann Johnson, Delores A. Couch, Teresa McDonald, Sandi Kovar, Anne Accola; Row 3: Carolynn Conley, Helen Meester, Eva Hernandez, Maria Garza, Carmen Cruz, Pat Engel, Sharon C. Conover, Karen Flanagan, Georgie Huepers; Row 4: Marie Gibson, Nina J. Weaver, Irma Cortez, Sara Beck, Pearline Collector, Nancy Harris, Patsy Smith, Susan Wilson, Mary Barth; Row 5: M. Edson, M.E. Mabry, Ruth Ann Brinkworth, Barbara Hopkins, Dianne Murphy, H.A. Barnes, Terry Stanford, Kathie Abotteen, Michele Brekke, Alice Van Gilder, Ceevon (Mi-Mi) Lau, Dianna Watson, Cynthia Nagy.
Click for list with job descriptions Row1-4 Row 5

1982 JSC Systems Division

JSC Systems Division © NASA
L to R, 1-18 front row, 19-34, 35-48, 49-67, 68-101 back row Click for names by numbers