Final answer:
Dorothy Vaughan was an African-American mathematician and computer programmer who worked at NASA. She made significant contributions to the space program and her story was highlighted in the book 'Hidden Figures'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dorothy Vaughan was an important figure in the history of African-American women in mathematics and computing. She was a mathematician and computer programmer who worked for NASA during the 1950s and 1960s. Vaughan was a key leader in the West Area Computing unit, a segregated unit of African-American women mathematicians at NASA.
She played an instrumental role in calculating and analyzing the trajectories for the early space missions, including the launch of the first American satellite. Vaughan's work was highly valued and she made significant contributions to the space program despite facing both racial and gender discrimination.
Her story was highlighted in the book 'Hidden Figures' and the subsequent movie adaptation, bringing her achievements to a wider audience and recognizing her important work in the field of mathematics and space exploration.