Getting to the moon is really hard, and it takes a lot of brilliant minds to make it happen. The good news is that these minds are innovative and capable of creation during times of crisis. Such was the case with Judith Love Cohen, one of the engineers who worked on the crew of Apollo 13. However, this historic mission isn’t Cohen’s only tie to pop culture and fame. She has quite a famous son known in the entertainment industry for multiple roles. Suggested read: Apollo 13: Remembering the Mission and the Film

Judith Love Cohen, Apollo 13, and Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

Judith Love Cohen helped design the Apollo 13 Abort Guidance System, but her path to engineering in the aerospace industry didn’t come as easy as it did for others. This is because, at the time, women in STEM were virtually non-existent. However, sometimes fate doesn’t ask permission and simply makes things happen. Cohen continued her love of math and engineering. This would lead to her working hard and studying engineering at USC, before later promoting STEM education for girls in retirement. Judith was born in Brooklyn in 1933. She initially aspired to be an astronomer but fell in love with engineering at Brooklyn College. While raising three children, she continued her education in Southern California. In 1957, Judith Love Cohen earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from USC before joining Space Technology Laboratories, later known as TRW, fulfilling her childhood dream. As one of the few women in engineering at the time, she worked on various projects. This includes the Minuteman missile guidance computer and the Abort Guidance System for the Apollo lunar module. Cohen's dedication was exemplified when she went to her office on the day her soon-to-be-famous son was born. She even brought a computer printout of her work to the hospital and solved the problem while in labor. Her proudest achievement was the Abort Guidance System, which played a crucial role in guiding the Apollo 13 crew safely back to Earth in 1970.

Abort Guidance System and Improvising to Save Apollo 13

The Apollo 13 crew, consisting of Commander James A. Lovell, Command Module Pilot John L. "Jack" Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred W. Haise, found themselves 175,000 miles from Earth on a mission that had gone wrong. Under normal circumstances, Lovell and Haise would have been on the Moon's surface in the Lunar Module (LM) Aquarius while Swigert orbited in the Command Module (CM) Odyssey. However, an earlier oxygen tank explosion forced all three astronauts to seek refuge in Aquarius, leading to a change in plans. Instead of landing on the Moon, they used the LM's engine to loop around it and accelerate their return to Earth. The AGS was a backup computer system designed to abort the mission if the Lunar Module's primary guidance system was to fail during lunar descent, ascent, or rendezvous. While it was rarely in use due to the reliability of the primary system, NASA's policy mandated its presence as a fail-safe measure. It could also verify navigation data when the Lunar Module was out of direct communication behind the Moon. The AGS made it possible for this remarkable feat and the team Judith Love Cohen was a part of became heroes. However, it’s not the only reason Cohen would find fame. Even if indirectly, as her son would grow up to be someone beloved throughout Hollywood.

Who Is Jack Black’s Mom?

It’s impossible to mention Judith Love Cohen and not mention that she is Jack Black’s mom. Yep, the man who has brought us a rock teacher who cares, a panda that masters kung fu, and one-half of one of the funniest duos in metal was born to an aerospace engineer who helped save the crew of Apollo 13. Judith Love Cohen and Jack Black forever share a connection, even if each built a respectable career of their own. Black continues to wow audiences with roles, while Cohen’s legacy continues to inspire future generations. A real missed opportunity for Judith Love Cohen and Jack Black was not being featured in the 1995 iconic film Apollo 13 depicting the infamous mission. But to be fair, hindsight is 20/20. And at the time, Black was far from the household name that he is today. Still, it would have been a really cool feature. Related read: 2023 Marks The Fourth Space Force Birthday Celebrating Our Guardians

Judith Love Cohen Saved Astronauts and Inspired Women Everywhere

On July 25, 2016, a short battle with cancer would be the Judith Love Cohen cause of death. She was 82 years old. But over the course of her life she was helping in the world of space exploration and STEM in general. Understanding the importance of seeing women in jobs like hers, she helped inspire young girls with a variety of efforts. This would include a publishing company with her third husband David Katz called Cascade Pass. The books were designed to help peak interest in STEM fields for young girls. They continue to this day as Katz turns his talents to writing for television. Judith Love Cohen would help create more than 30 books that would help inspire the next generation of women in aerospace. Read next: Operation Prosperity Guardian: Multiple Nations Rise to Fight Houthis