Dr. Valerie L. Thomas: 3-D Television
An employee of NASA from 1964 until 1995, Dr. Valerie L. Thomas (1943-present) developed the illusion transmitter, for which she received a patent in 1980. She also led a team that spearheaded the development of the first satellite to send images from space. The technology she developed was used in the creation of 3-D television and MRIs.