History of Hidden Figures in Timeline
"Hidden Figures" is a biographical drama film that tells the inspiring true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three brilliant African-American mathematicians who played a pivotal role at NASA during the Space Race. The film highlights their extraordinary contributions to the space program, despite facing racial and gender discrimination in the early 1960s. With a stellar cast including Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, and Glen Powell, "Hidden Figures" celebrates the power of perseverance, intelligence, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of adversity.
1949: Dorothy Vaughan Becomes Supervisor at NACA
In 1949, Dorothy Vaughan achieves a significant milestone by becoming the first Black supervisor at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Her promotion made her one of the few female supervisors at the time, highlighting her exceptional skills and leadership.
1953: Katherine Johnson's Work in Langley's West Area
Beginning in mid-1953, Katherine Johnson primarily worked in Langley's West Area, specifically in Building 1244. She continued working in this building even after joining the Space Task Group, through the early 1960s and John Glenn's historic flight.
1953: Mary Jackson's Experience with Segregation
In 1953, Mary Jackson, while on a temporary assignment in the East Area of Langley, encounters difficulties finding a bathroom designated for Black employees. This incident underscores the realities of segregation and the challenges faced by Black workers at the time.
1953: Katherine Johnson Joins Flight Research Division
Katherine Johnson's career at Langley takes a significant step forward in 1953 when she is assigned to the Flight Research Division. This move eventually becomes permanent, allowing Johnson to further contribute her mathematical talents to the field of aeronautics.
1958: Mary Jackson Earns Engineering Promotion
After completing her engineering courses at the whites-only high school, Mary Jackson secures a well-deserved promotion to engineer in 1958. This achievement makes her NASA's first female African American engineer, breaking down barriers and inspiring others.
1958: Formation of the Space Task Group and Johnson's Persistence
The Space Task Group is established in 1958, with engineers from the Flight Research Division forming its core. Katherine Johnson is included in this group, further solidifying her role in the nascent space program. In the same year, Johnson begins attending editorial meetings, not because of a specific critical meeting as portrayed in the film, but rather through her own persistence.
1958: Desegregation at NASA Langley
With the transition from NACA to NASA in 1958, Langley Research Center undergoes desegregation. Segregated facilities, including the West Computing office, were abolished, leading to a more integrated working environment.
1960: Katherine Johnson Co-authors NASA Research Report
In a groundbreaking achievement, Katherine Johnson becomes the first woman in Langley's Flight Research Division to receive credit as an author of a NASA research report in 1960. This milestone reflects her growing recognition and the importance of her contributions to the field.
1961: Release of "Mighty Good Lovin'"
The Miracles released their chart-topping hit "Mighty Good Lovin'", written by Smokey Robinson, in 1961. This song is featured in the film during a house party scene and the closing credits.
1961: Setting of "Hidden Figures"
The film "Hidden Figures" is set at NASA Langley Research Center in 1961, during a time of segregation. The film portrays the segregated facilities, including the West Area Computing unit, where Black female mathematicians like Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson worked.
1961: Inaccuracies in Hidden Figures
The movie "Hidden Figures" incorrectly depicts the location of the Mercury Control Center and the nature of the orbit plots. It also inaccurately portrays NASA having access to live telemetry from the Soviet Vostok launch, which would not have been shared in 1961.
October 1962: Wally Schirra's MA-8 mission
In October 1962, Wally Schirra embarked on the MA-8 mission, marking the first instance of a six-orbit mission.
2015: "Hidden Figures" Book Optioned for Film
In 2015, producer Donna Gigliotti secured the rights to adapt Margot Lee Shetterly's book "Hidden Figures" into a film. The book tells the untold story of Black female mathematicians who were instrumental to NASA's success during the Space Race.
2015: Katherine Johnson Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
Katherine Johnson was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. This prestigious award recognized her significant contributions to NASA and her role in advancing space exploration.
March 2016: Additional Filming and Casting for "Hidden Figures"
Filming for "Hidden Figures" takes place at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, in March 2016. Scenes were also shot in Historic Downtown Canton, Georgia, and at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Jim Parsons joins the cast to play Paul Stafford, the lead engineer of the Space Task Group at NASA.
March 2016: Filming Begins for "Hidden Figures"
In March 2016, principal photography for "Hidden Figures" commenced in Atlanta, Georgia. The film's production took place at various locations, including Morehouse College, Historic Downtown Canton, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
May 2016: Filming Wraps for "Hidden Figures"
By May 2016, principal photography for "Hidden Figures" concluded. The film's production had taken place in Atlanta, Georgia, and other locations in the state, including East Point, Canton, Monroe, Columbus, and Madison.
December 25, 2016: Limited Release of "Hidden Figures"
On December 25, 2016, "Hidden Figures" had a limited release by 20th Century Fox. This limited release allowed for a focused marketing campaign and early critical reception before the film's wider distribution.
2016: Release of "Hidden Figures"
"Hidden Figures," a biographical drama film based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, was released in 2016. The film tells the story of Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three African-American mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race.
2016: Hidden Figures Financial Success and Best Picture Nomination
Hidden Figures, released in 2016, achieved significant financial success, grossing over $236 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. It earned a Best Picture nomination at the 89th Academy Awards and became the highest-grossing nominee in its category. Notably, Deadline Hollywood reported a net profit of $95.55 million for the film, placing it among the top twenty most profitable releases of 2016.
2016: NASA Dedicates Building to Katherine Johnson
In 2016, NASA paid tribute to Katherine Johnson by dedicating the Langley Research Center's Katherine Johnson Computational Building in her honor. This dedication acknowledged Johnson's pioneering work as a mathematician and her enduring legacy at NASA.
2016: "Hidden Figures" Receives Accolades
The National Board of Review recognized "Hidden Figures" as one of the top ten films of 2016. The film also garnered multiple awards and award nominations, including three nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Notably, the film won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
January 5, 2017: Expansion of Hidden Figures Release and Box Office Success
Hidden Figures expanded its theatrical release on January 5, 2017, alongside the openings of "Underworld: Blood Wars" and the wider releases of "Lion" and "A Monster Calls." The film exceeded box office expectations, grossing $22.8 million in its opening weekend, surpassing initial projections and even topping the charts over "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." This success continued into its second weekend, where it maintained its lead at the box office.
January 6, 2017: Wide Release of "Hidden Figures"
Following its limited release, "Hidden Figures" went into wide distribution on January 6, 2017. This wider release brought the film to a larger audience across the United States.
February 2017: Hidden Figures Free Screenings for Black History Month
In February 2017, AMC Theatres and 21st Century Fox hosted free screenings of Hidden Figures to celebrate Black History Month. These screenings, held in various U.S. cities, aimed to raise awareness about the film's story of Black women in NASA during the Space Race.
March 28, 2017: Digital HD Release of Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures became available on Digital HD on March 28, 2017.
April 11, 2017: Physical Release of Hidden Figures
On April 11, 2017, Hidden Figures was released on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and DVD. It achieved a No. 3 debut on the home video sales chart.
2017: Academy Award Nominations for Hidden Figures
In 2017, Hidden Figures received three nominations for the 89th Academy Awards, although it did not win in any of its nominated categories.
2017: Launch of "Hidden No More" Exchange Program
The "Hidden No More" exchange program, inspired by the film, was initiated in 2017 after positive responses to screenings of the film by US embassies. This led to a three-week program in the United States for women in STEM, representing 48 countries.
2019: Third Annual "Hidden No More" Exchange Program
The Walt Disney Company and the U.S. Department of State launched the third annual "Hidden No More" exchange program in 2019, inspired by the film. The program brings 50 women from STEM fields worldwide to the United States.
2020: Projected STEM Job Shortage
Research indicated a projected shortage of 2.4 million STEM jobs by 2020.
