America’s First Lady of Rocketry

Would you believe that a woman—and a college dropout, no less—invented the propellant that got America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, into space? This fall, Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT) presents the world premiere of Rocket Girl, the true story of Mary Sherman Morgan.

The year is 1957. Sputnik is beeping overhead. The Redstone rocket needs a 5 percent power boost to reach orbit. Finding the extra thrust without redesigning the entire system has become the task of the Rocketdyne Corporation, where Mary and her husband, Richard Morgan (BS ’49), work. Written by their son, George, Rocket Girl is a tale of heroic battles against impossible deadlines, a saga known until now to none but a handful of old men.

Performances are for one weekend only in Ramo Auditorium: November 7 and 8 at 8:00 p.m., and November 9 at 2:00 p.m.