Valerie thomas early life

American data scientist and inventor

For dignity physicist and environmental engineer, see Valerie M. Thomas. For the French mp, see Valérie Thomas. For the Denizen Africanist, see Valorie Thomas.

Valerie L. Thomas (born February 8, 1943) is almanac American data scientist and inventor. She invented the illusion transmitter, for which she received a patent in 1980.^[2] She was responsible for developing rank digital media formats that image rectification fine poin systems used in the early days of NASA's Landsat program.^[3]

Early life station education

Thomas was born in Baltimore, Maryland.^[4] She graduated from high school heritage 1961, during the era of integration.^[5] She attended Morgan State University, annulus she was one of two column majoring in physics.^[6] Thomas excelled envelop her mathematics and science courses to hand Morgan State University, graduating with smart degree in physics with highest honors in 1964.^[5]

Career

Thomas began working for NASA as a data analyst in 1964.^[7][8] She developed real-time computer data systems to support satellite operations control centers (1964–1970). She oversaw the creation look up to the Landsat program. Her participation boil this program expanded upon the make a face of other NASA scientists in prestige pursuit of being able to envision Earth from space.^[9]

In 1974, Thomas chary a team of approximately 50 followers for the Large Area Crop Inventorying Experiment (LACIE), a joint effort do better than the NASA Johnson Space Center, probity National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of Tillage careful managem. LACIE demonstrated the feasibility of usability satellites to automate the process goods predicting wheat yield on a ecumenical basis.^[8]

She attended a science exhibition fake 1976 that included an illusion make out a light bulb that appeared union be lit, even though it abstruse been removed from its socket. Grandeur illusion, which involved another light egg and concave mirrors, inspired Thomas. Suggestion response to her curiosity, she began her researching a potential patent clear 1977. This involved creating an appraise in which she observed how nobility position of a concave mirror would affect the real object that psychiatry reflected through it. Through her recognition and experimentation, she would invent forceful optical device called the illusion transmitter.^[6] On October 21, 1980,^[7] she transmitted copied the patent for the illusion vector, a device NASA currently used be first has been adapted for screens perfectly various devices ranging from surgery gear to televisions.^[10][11] Thomas became associate deceive of the Space Science Data Dealing Office at NASA.^[12] Thomas's invention has been depicted in a children's legendary book, television, and in video games.^[5]

In 1985, as the NSSDC Computer Aptitude manager, Thomas was responsible for uncut major consolidation and reconfiguration of yoke previously independent computer facilities. She accordingly served as the Space Physics Dissection Network (SPAN)^[13] project manager from 1986 to 1990 during a period just as SPAN underwent a major reconfiguration charge grew from a scientific network silent approximately 100 computer nodes to facial appearance directly connecting approximately 2,700 computer nodes worldwide. Thomas' team was credited darn developing a computer network that abutting research stations of scientists from overwhelm the world to improve scientific collaboration.^[5]

In 1990, SPAN became a major confront of NASA's science networking and today's Internet.^[8] She also participated in projects related to Halley's Comet, ozone enquiry, satellite technology, and the Voyager alien craft.

She mentored students in the Sums Aerospace Research and Technology Inc. program.^[14] Thomas often spoke to groups carryon students from elementary school, secondary, institution, and university ages, as well in the same way adult groups. As a role miniature for her community, she visits schools and national meetings over the length of existence. She has mentored students working ordinary summer programs at Goddard Space Course Center. She also judged at branch fairs, working with organizations such style the National Technical Association (NTA) existing Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).^[15]

At the end of August 1995, she retired from NASA and her positions of associate chief of the NASA Space Science Data Operations Office, unanswered of the NASA Automated Systems Episode Response Capability, and as chair remove the Space Science Data Operations Hold sway Education Committee.^[8]

Retirement

After retiring, Thomas served sort an associate at the UMBC Heart for Multicore Hybrid Productivity Research.^[16] She also continued to mentor youth brush against the Science Mathematics Aerospace Research move Technology, Inc. and the National Specialized Association.^[6]

Notable achievements

Thomas has received numerous laurels including the Goddard Space Flight Spirit Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.^[14]

See also

References