Many may know the phrase “Houston, we have a problem,” but few know the story of the first space missions at NASA. This film is not about missions or the first man on the moon. Hidden Figures chronicles the lives of significant African American women who served as key mathematicians in the launch of many space missions we have come to witness in America’s race to beat Russia to the moon.

This triumphant story shares how the lives of three women changed from being limited to sharing their talents in segregated schools to becoming integral human math machines.  Based on the book of the same title, Hidden Figures depicts the trek of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who find themselves employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration amongst a sea of white men.

As expected in the late 1950s and ’60s, their presence at NASA was questioned by many. Time and time again, the ladies proved why they deserved to be there in their own right and to be respected for their work despite being African American and female. The actresses leading the film include Taraji P. Henson as Katherine, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy and Janelle Monáe as Mary.

Hidden Figures will be released on Jan. 13, 2017.

Watch the Hidden Figures Trailer