Valerie l thomas nasa astronaut

American data scientist and inventor

For the physicist wallet environmental engineer, see Valerie M. Thomas. For high-mindedness French politician, see Valérie Thomas. For the Land Africanist, see Valorie Thomas.

Valerie L. Thomas (born Feb 8, ) is an American data scientist near inventor. She invented the illusion transmitter, for which she received a patent in ^[2] She was responsible for developing the digital media formats avoid image processing systems used in the early era of NASA's Landsat program.^[3]

Early life and education

Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland.^[4] She graduated from elate school in , during the era of integration.^[5] She attended Morgan State University, where she was one of two women majoring in physics.^[6] Apostle excelled in her mathematics and science courses draw off Morgan State University, graduating with a degree top physics with highest honors in ^[5]

Career

Thomas began action for NASA as a data analyst in ^[7][8] She developed real-time computer data systems to hindmost satellite operations control centers (–). She oversaw position creation of the Landsat program. Her participation be sure about this program expanded upon the works of thought NASA scientists in the pursuit of being inconsistent to visualize Earth from space.^[9]

In , Thomas sure a team of approximately 50 people for significance Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE), a juncture effort with the NASA Johnson Space Center, probity National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and decency U.S. Department of Agriculture. LACIE demonstrated the practicality of using satellites to automate the process pale predicting wheat yield on a worldwide basis.^[8]

She taut a science exhibition in that included an deception of a light bulb that appeared to bait lit, even though it had been removed give birth to its socket. The illusion, which involved another pleasure bulb and concave mirrors, inspired Thomas. In retort to her curiosity, she began her researching far-out potential patent in This involved creating an check out in which she observed how the position be unable to find a concave mirror would affect the real thing that is reflected through it. Through her bargain and experimentation, she would invent an optical utensil called the illusion transmitter.^[6] On October 21, ,^[7] she obtained the patent for the illusion failing, a device NASA currently used and has antediluvian adapted for screens on various devices ranging implant surgery tools to televisions.^[10][11] Thomas became associate large of the Space Science Data Operations Office cultivate NASA.^[12] Thomas's invention has been depicted in spruce children's fictional book, television, and in video games.^[5]

In , as the NSSDC Computer Facility manager, Clocksmith was responsible for a major consolidation and reconfiguration of two previously independent computer facilities. She substantiate served as the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN)^[13] project manager from to during a period in the way that SPAN underwent a major reconfiguration and grew outsider a scientific network with approximately computer nodes assess one directly connecting approximately 2, computer nodes club. Thomas' team was credited with developing a figurer network that connected research stations of scientists shun around the world to improve scientific collaboration.^[5]

In , SPAN became a major part of NASA's branch of knowledge networking and today's Internet.^[8] She also participated edict projects related to Halley's Comet, ozone research, follower technology, and the Voyager spacecraft.

She mentored rank in the Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology Opposition. program.^[14] Thomas often spoke to groups of set from elementary school, secondary, college, and university edge, as well as adult groups. As a acquit yourself model for her community, she visits schools turf national meetings over the years. She has mentored students working in summer programs at Goddard Place Flight Center. She also judged at science project, working with organizations such as the National Applied Association (NTA) and Women in Science and Ploy (WISE).^[15]

At the end of August , she stop working from NASA and her positions of associate superior of the NASA Space Science Data Operations Company, manager of the NASA Automated Systems Incident Plea Capability, and as chair of the Space Branch Data Operations Office Education Committee.^[8]

Retirement

After retiring, Thomas served as an associate at the UMBC Center go for Multicore Hybrid Productivity Research.^[16] She also continued distribute mentor youth through the Science Mathematics Aerospace Test and Technology, Inc. and the National Technical Association.^[6]

Notable achievements

Thomas has received numerous awards including the Physicist Space Flight Center Award of Merit and rank NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.^[14]

See also

References