Christine Darden is a widely recognized aerospace engineer who studies ways to improve commercial transport flights so they reach supersonic speeds.
She attended Allen High School in Asheville, North Carolina, and was considered an excellent student.
Darden's parents encouraged her to excel in her school work.
In 1962, Christine Darden received a degree in mathematics from what is now called Hampton University.
She then went to Virginia State College and completed a master's degree program in mathematics.
During her course work, Darden began working with a computer program to analyze sonic booms.
Darden continued her education at the George Washington University, Washington, DC, and in 1983 qualified for a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering.
She had felt somewhat isolated at first being the only woman in her classes and also being African-American.
Christine Darden was recognized for her work by being contracted to work on NASA's Supersonic Transport Research Project.
She worked in the 1990's as a group leader at NASA's Langley Research Center
Eventually, it took a flight of an X-15 in 2003 to confirm Darden's theory dealing with supersonic speeds.
She has received several honors from NASA for Outstanding Performance and Achievement.
Christine Darden is one of the world's experts on sonic boom prediction, sonic boom minimization and supersonic wing design.
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