As part of Women’s History Month, trailblazing women in STEM are in the spotlight and one aerospace pioneer is receiving a long-overdue recognition.
Ethel L. Lee, affectionately known as “Space Shuttle Ethel,” celebrated her 99th birthday with a special honor from local leaders and the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California.
Lee, a groundbreaking African American woman in the aerospace industry, played a pivotal role in building NASA’s first six space shuttles: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour, and Enterprise. Her journey from entrepreneur to NASA legend exemplifies perseverance and ambition.
“She owned Lee’s Café in South L.A. on Main Street, and she always said it was her destiny to send a man to the moon,” said her granddaughter, Daphne Bradford. “When she learned that NASA was opening a site in Downey, she applied and made the transition.”
Her contributions to NASA’s space program were celebrated by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who highlighted Lee’s historic career during the ceremony.
Hahn also announced a $50,000 grant to support Bradford’s nonprofit organization, continuing the Lee family’s legacy in space exploration and S.T.E.A.M. education.
“Over the course of her extraordinary career, Ethel L. Lee was instrumental in shaping the future of space travel,” Hahn remarked. “Her impact is immeasurable, and we are proud to celebrate her legacy.”
The Columbia Memorial Space Center unveiled a special Women’s History Month exhibit titled “NASA Life of Ethel Lee” in her honor.
The exhibit pays tribute to her achievements and serves as an inspiration for future generations of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
With her 100th birthday on the horizon, Lee’s family and admirers eagerly anticipate another milestone in the life of a woman whose determination helped shape America’s space program.
