Ann E. Bailie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann E. Bailie
|
|
|---|---|
Ann E. Bailie, from a 1961 publication of the United States Civil Service Commission
|
|
| Born |
Dorothy Ann Eckels
1935 Littleton, New Hampshire
|
| Died | 2022 |
| Occupation | Mathematician |
Dorothy Ann Eckels Bailie, born in 1935, was an American mathematician. She worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center during the 1950s and 1960s. She was part of a team that made an important discovery about Earth's shape. In 1959, she helped write a report that showed Earth is not perfectly round. Instead, it is slightly uneven, or "pear-shaped," based on data from the Vanguard 1 satellite.
Early Life and Education
Dorothy Ann Eckels was born in Littleton, New Hampshire. She grew up in Laconia, New Hampshire. Her father was a surgeon, a type of doctor who performs operations. Her grandfather, Adolph Frederick Erdmann, was important in the field of anesthesiology. This is the study of how to make people feel no pain during surgery.
Ann loved math from a young age. She went to Middlebury College and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1957. While at college, she was also very involved in school life. She was even chosen as the Queen of the school's Winter Carnival. She also helped organize this fun event.
A Career in Space Science
After college, Ann Bailie started her career at the United States Naval Research Laboratory. By 1959, she was working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She joined the Theoretical Division there. Her job was to calculate and study the complex paths, or orbits, of satellites.
Discovering Earth's Shape
Ann Bailie was part of a special team. This team included R. Kenneth Squires and John A. O'Keefe. They used information from the Vanguard 1 satellite. This satellite was one of the first to orbit Earth.
By carefully studying the satellite's orbit, they made a big discovery. They found that Earth is not a perfect sphere. Instead, it has a slightly uneven, or "pear-shaped," form. This means it's a bit wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, like a pear. Their findings were published in a 1959 report.
Recognition and Later Work
Ann Bailie's work was recognized by important people. In 1961, James E. Webb, who was the head of NASA, mentioned her. He spoke about her and other women, like Nancy Roman, as great examples of women in the space program.
In 1963, Mademoiselle magazine also honored her. They named her one of the "Ten Young Women of the Year." Later in her career, she worked at Analytical Mechanics Associates in Maryland. This company helps with complex problems in space and flight.
Personal Life
Ann Eckels married William J. Bailie in 1959. He was an accountant. They had three children together. Her husband passed away in 2009.
