Valerie Thomas
NASA photograph of Thomas next to a stack of earlyLandsat Computer Compatible Tapes, 1979[1]
Born	(1943-02-08)February 8, 1943 (age 83) Maryland, United States
Alma mater	Morgan State University George Washington University University of Delaware Simmons College Graduate School of Management
Known for	Inventor of theillusion transmitter
Scientific career
Institutions	NASA Goddard UMBC

Valerie L. Thomas (born February 8, 1943) is an Americandata scientist and inventor. She invented theillusion transmitter, for which she received a patent in 1980.^[2] She was responsible for developing the digital media formats thatimage processing systems used in the early years ofNASA'sLandsat program.^[3]

Thomas was born inBaltimore, Maryland.^[4] She graduated from high school in 1961, during the era of integration.^[5] She attendedMorgan State University, where she was one of two women majoring inphysics.^[6] Thomas excelled in her mathematics and science courses at Morgan State University, graduating with a degree in physics with highest honors in 1964.^[5]

Thomas began working forNASA as adata analyst in 1964.^[7][8] She developed real-time computer data systems to support satellite operation control centers (1964–1970). She oversaw the creation of theLandsat program and her participation in the program expanded upon the works of other NASA scientists in the pursuit of being able to visualize Earth from space.^[9]

In 1974, Thomas headed a team of approximately 50 people for the Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE), a joint effort with the NASAJohnson Space Center, theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and theU.S. Department of Agriculture. LACIE demonstrated the feasibility of using satellites to automate the process of predicting wheat yield on a worldwide basis.^[8]

She attended a science exhibition in 1976 that included anillusion of a light bulb that appeared to be lit, even though it had been removed from its socket. The illusion, which involved another light bulb andconcave mirrors, inspired Thomas. In response to her curiosity, she began her researching a potential patent in 1977. This involved creating an experiment in which she observed how the position of a concave mirror would affect the real object that is reflected through it. Through her discovery and experimentation, she would invent an optical device called theillusion transmitter.^[6] On October 21, 1980,^[7] she obtained thepatent for the illusion transmitter, a device NASA adopted and which was later adapted for screens on devices ranging from surgery tools to televisions.^[10][11] Thomas became associate chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office at NASA.^[12] Thomas's invention has been depicted in a children's fictional book, television, and in video games.^[5]

In 1985, as theNSSDC Computer Facility manager, Thomas was responsible for a major consolidation and reconfiguration of two previously independent computer facilities. She then served as the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN)^[13] project manager from 1986 to 1990 during a period when SPAN underwent a major reconfiguration and grew from a scientific network with approximately 100 computer nodes to one directly connecting approximately 2,700 computer nodes worldwide. Thomas' team was credited with developing a computer network that connected research stations of scientists from around the world to improve scientific collaboration.^[5]

In 1990, SPAN became a major part of NASA's science networking and today's Internet.^[8] She also participated in projects related toHalley's Comet,ozone research,satellite technology, and theVoyager spacecraft.

She mentored students in the Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology Inc. program.^[14] Thomas often spoke to groups of students from elementary school, secondary, college, and university ages, as well as adult groups. As a role model for her community, she visits schools and national meetings over the years. She has mentored students working in summer programs atGoddard Space Flight Center. She also judged at science fairs, working with organizations such as the National Technical Association (NTA) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE).^[15]

At the end of August 1995, she retired from NASA and her positions of associate chief of the NASA Space Science Data Operations Office, manager of the NASA Automated Systems Incident Response Capability, and as chair of the Space Science Data Operations Office Education Committee.^[8]

After retiring, Thomas served as an associate at theUMBC Center for Multicore Hybrid Productivity Research.^[16] She also continued to mentor youth through the Science Mathematics Aerospace Research and Technology, Inc. and the National Technical Association.^[6] In 2018, Thomas was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, recognizing her contributions to satellite communication and remote sensing as a pioneer.^[17]

Thomas has received numerous awards including the Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit and the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal.^[14]

• Timeline of women in science
• Mary Jackson (engineer)
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