A new film has revealed the story of three black female maths wizards who helped launch American astronaut John Glenn into space.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson were known as the 'computers in skirts' who worked on the Redstone, Mercury and Apollo space missions using the limited technology of the time.

African-American women played a crucial role in providing the mathematical data needed to safely complete space missions, including Mr Glenn's pioneering spaceflight in 1962.

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Janelle Monáe, Taraji P Henson and Octavia Spencer star as Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan in the forthcoming film Hidden Figures

Working as a Nasa 'computer' paid more than the majority of jobs available to women, and provided an entry into aeronautical research at a time when few jobs besides teaching were offered to those with degrees in the sciences.

Hidden Figures, about a pioneering team of African-American women who provided Nasa with critical mathematical data needed to launch successful space missions, will be released in the UK on February 17

Their work has barely earned them a mention in the annals of history, but now, thanks to Margot Lee Shetterly's best-selling novel, Hidden Figures: the American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians who helped win the Space Race and the upcoming film of the same name, that may soon change.

Based on the lives of these Nasa pioneers, Hidden Figures celebrates the lives and ground breaking work of these three women.

The film, which is already getting Oscar buzz, stars Taraji P Henson of TV series Empire, Octavia Spencer from The Help movie and singer-actress Janelle Monáe.

Ms Monáe, who stars as Ms Jackson, told the Observer that the three women changed the face of a white male profession.

She said: 'These women were told that their dreams were not valid because of their gender and the colour of their skin.

'But these were two things they could not change – and would not want to – because [Jackson] was a proud black woman.'

Ms Jackson fought the courts to enrol in courses that would allow her to apply to Nasa.

She rose from mathematician to engineer and mentor for women and minorities.

The filmmaker's hope that the movie will also help remove the stigma attached to women in the sciences.

Pharrell Williams, an executive producer on the movie who also wrote several songs for it, added his voice to the call to have women's contributions in the sciences more widely acknowledged.

Mr Williams told the Directors Guild of America last month: 'Up until recently, a woman’s contribution to history has often been dismissed, discounted and often at times even erased from public acknowledgement.'

Many of Nasa's initial missions were made possible by the team's calculations, including John Glenn's first orbit around Earth

Ms Johnson was personally asked by Mr Glenn to confirm the trajectory calculations before his orbital spaceflight around Earth in 1962

She has resisted taking full credit for the work the team conducted: 'We always worked as a team. It's never just one person'

Ms Jackson graduated from Hampton Institute in 1942 with degrees in physical science and mathematics

A pivotal scene in the film is when Glenn requests that Johnson personally confirm the complex trajectory calculations before his orbital spaceflight around Earth in 1962.

Johnson, a 2015 National Medal of Freedom recipient, had calculated the trajectory for America's first trip to space a year prior.

Since then, Johnson has resisted taking full credit for the work of the 'computers'.