22 Facts About Valerie Thomas

Valerie L Thomas was born on February 8,1943 and is an American data scientist and inventor.

Valerie Thomas invented the illusion transmitter, for which she received a patent in 1980.

Valerie Thomas was responsible for developing the digital media formats that image processing systems used in the early years of NASA's Landsat program.

Valerie Thomas graduated from high school in 1961, during the era of integration.

Valerie Thomas attended Morgan State University, where she was one of two women majoring in physics.

Valerie Thomas began working for NASA as a data analyst in 1964.

Valerie Thomas developed real-time computer data systems to support satellite operation control centers.

Valerie Thomas oversaw the creation of the Landsat program and her participation in the program expanded upon the works of other NASA scientists in the pursuit of being able to visualize Earth from space.

In 1974, Valerie Thomas headed a team of approximately 50 people for the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment, a joint effort with the NASA Johnson Space Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture.

Valerie Thomas attended a science exhibition in 1976 that included an illusion of a light bulb that appeared to be lit, even though it had been removed from its socket.

Valerie Thomas became associate chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office at NASA.

Valerie Thomas's invention has been depicted in a children's fictional book, television, and in video games.

In 1985, as the NSSDC Computer Facility manager, Valerie Thomas was responsible for a major consolidation and reconfiguration of two previously independent computer facilities.

Valerie Thomas then served as the Space Physics Analysis Network project manager from 1986 to 1990 during a period when SPAN underwent a major reconfiguration and grew from a scientific network with approximately 100 computer nodes to one directly connecting approximately 2,700 computer nodes worldwide.

Valerie Thomas' team was credited with developing a computer network that connected research stations of scientists from around the world to improve scientific collaboration.

Valerie Thomas participated in projects related to Halley's Comet, ozone research, satellite technology, and the Voyager spacecraft.

Valerie Thomas mentored students in the Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology Inc program.

Valerie Thomas often spoke to groups of students from elementary school, secondary, college, and university ages, as well as adult groups.

Valerie Thomas has mentored students working in summer programs at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Valerie Thomas judged at science fairs, working with organizations such as the National Technical Association and Women in Science and Engineering.

Valerie Thomas continued to mentor youth through the Science Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology, Inc and the National Technical Association.

Valerie Thomas has received numerous awards including the Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.