# Melba Roy Mouton

> African-American Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA

**Wikidata**: [Q16012481](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16012481)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melba_Roy_Mouton)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/melba-roy-mouton

## Summary
Melba Roy Mouton was an African-American mathematician and computer scientist who served as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA. She played a significant role in NASA's early space missions, contributing to the tracking of satellites and spacecraft trajectories during the agency's formative years.

## Biography
- Born: January 1, 1929 in Fairfax
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Howard University
- Known for: Serving as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA
- Employer(s): United States Census Bureau, NASA
- Field(s): mathematics, computer science

## Contributions
Melba Roy Mouton worked as a mathematician and computer scientist at NASA, where she served as Assistant Chief of Research Programs. Her work involved calculations related to satellite tracking and space missions during NASA's early years. She was part of the team that developed systems for tracking satellites and spacecraft trajectories, which was crucial for the success of NASA's space exploration programs during the 1960s and 1970s. Mouton's mathematical expertise supported the agency's efforts to monitor and communicate with spacecraft as they journeyed through space.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Melba Roy Mouton's role at NASA?
A: Melba Roy Mouton served as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA, where she worked on mathematical calculations related to satellite tracking and space missions.

### Q: Where was Melba Roy Mouton born and when did she die?
A: Melba Roy Mouton was born on January 1, 1929, in Fairfax. She passed away on June 25, 1990, in Silver Spring due to brain cancer.

### Q: What was Melba Roy Mouton's educational background?
A: Melba Roy Mouton was educated at Howard University, though specific degrees are not mentioned in the source material.

### Q: What fields did Melba Roy Mouton work in?
A: Melba Roy Mouton worked in the fields of mathematics and computer science, serving as both a mathematician and computer scientist throughout her career.

## Why They Matter
Melba Roy Mouton was a pioneering African-American woman in mathematics and computer science during a time when these fields were predominantly male. Her role as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA placed her in a position of leadership during NASA's formative years, contributing to the success of space missions that expanded humanity's understanding of the universe. As one of the few African-American women in such a prominent position at NASA during the 1960s and 1970s, her career serves as an inspiration for underrepresented groups in STEM fields.

## Notable For
- Served as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA
- Worked as a mathematician and computer scientist during NASA's early space missions
- One of the few African-American women in leadership positions at NASA during the 1960s and 1970s
- Contributed to satellite tracking and spacecraft trajectory calculations
- Educated at Howard University

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Melba Roy Mouton was born on January 1, 1929, in Fairfax. She attended Howard University for her education, though specific degrees are not mentioned in the source material.

### Career
Mouton worked as a mathematician and computer scientist, serving as Assistant Chief of Research Programs at NASA. She was employed by both the United States Census Bureau and NASA during her career. Her work at NASA focused on mathematical calculations related to satellite tracking and space missions.

### Death
Melba Roy Mouton passed away on June 25, 1990, in Silver Spring. The cause of death was brain cancer, which was classified as natural causes.