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Valerie Thomas — Historical photograph
Historical photograph. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, photograph 79-6530 (1979). Image credit & source

Physics · Satellite imaging · Computer systems

Valerie Thomas

Born 1943

STEMUS

Thomas managed development of systems that processed Landsat satellite data, helping researchers turn observations from space into useful information about Earth. She also patented an illusion transmitter in 1980, using concave mirrors to produce three-dimensional optical effects, and encouraged young people to pursue STEM.[1],[2]

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Thomas managed development of systems that processed Landsat satellite data, helping researchers turn observations from space into useful information about Earth. She also patented an illusion transmitter in 1980, using concave mirrors to produce three-dimensional optical effects, and encouraged young people to pursue STEM.[1],[2]

Local connection. National-to-local curriculum connection: inspect satellite views of San Francisco Bay and compare water, buildings, and green space. This is a teaching connection, not evidence that Thomas worked in San Francisco.

Impact reached: United States; International Landsat research community. (Impact describes who was reached; it is not a place of residence.)

Inquiry & making

Inquiry and making prompt

What can a picture from above show that a picture from the sidewalk cannot? Draw both views of your school.

Places

Where Valerie was born, had roots or studied, and worked — distinguished from where their impact reached.

Born
Maryland
Roots / education
Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland
Worked
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
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Mapped places for Valerie Thomas
RelationshipDocumented placeMap pointSources
Roots / educationMorgan State University, Baltimore, MarylandBaltimore city, MDCensus representative point[1][2]
WorkNASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt city, MDCensus representative point[1][2]
BirthplaceMarylandNot mapped — Broad state, region, country, or non-geographic identity: no defensible point assigned.

Timeline

  1. 1943

    Born — Maryland[2]

  2. 1980

    She also patented an illusion transmitter in 1980, using concave mirrors to produce three-dimensional optical effects, and encouraged young people to pursue STEM.[2]

Gallery

Portrait plus 1 source-grounded contextual item. Every image links to its source record.

Valerie Thomas: Historical photograph
Valerie Thomas with Landsat computer-compatible tapes, 1979Historical photograph.Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, photograph 79-6530 (1979).License / rights: Factual educational/editorial reuse supported by NASA’s image guidelines; the exact historical photograph is explicitly credited to NASA in its image article.Source recordOriginal-quality file
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References

  1. [1]
    NASA: A Face Behind Landsat Images—Meet Dr. Valerie L. Thomas

    Supports: First-person account of Landsat responsibilities, Goddard work, and STEM encouragement.

  2. [2]
    Lemelson-MIT: Valerie Thomas

    Supports: Maryland birth in 1943, Morgan State education, 1980 illusion-transmitter patent.

Last reviewed 2026-11-08 · Initial research edition · Record ID valerie-thomas. A curated, source-informed article — not openly editable and not independently scholar-reviewed. Corrections process.