7 Shocking Facts About Judith Love Cohen: Jack Black's Mom Who Saved Apollo 13

The name Judith Love Cohen might not be as instantly recognizable as her famous son, actor and musician Jack Black, but her contributions to history are arguably far more monumental. As of December 2025, the incredible life story of Jack Black’s mother continues to resurface across the internet, captivating a new generation with her groundbreaking work. She was a pioneering aerospace engineer who worked on some of the most critical space missions in history, including the one that saved the lives of the Apollo 13 crew. Her legacy is one of intellect, determination, and an unwavering commitment to both her career and her family.

Far from the Hollywood spotlight, Judith Love Cohen carved out a career in a field utterly dominated by men, becoming a true trailblazer. Her professional achievements range from designing life-saving technology for NASA to writing books that would inspire young girls in science. Her story is a powerful reminder that behind every celebrity, there is often an extraordinary and unsung hero.

Judith Love Cohen: A Biography of a Trailblazing Engineer

Judith Love Cohen's life was a testament to the power of a brilliant mind and a relentless work ethic. Her biography is filled with firsts and critical roles that shaped aerospace history.

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• Full Name: Judith Love Cohen
• Born: August 16, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York
• Died: July 25, 2016, (aged 82)
• Spouse(s): First marriage to Carl Siegel (father of her first two children); Second marriage to Thomas William Black (father of Jack Black)
• Children: Neil Siegel (computer scientist/engineer), Jack Black (actor/musician), and two other children.
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Brooklyn College, Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC)
• Key Career Roles: Aerospace Engineer at TRW (now Northrop Grumman); Worked on the Abort Guidance System for the Apollo Lunar Module, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Ground Terminal for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS).
• Other Work: Author of the "You Can Be a Woman Engineer" series of children's books.

The Apollo 13 Miracle: How Jack Black's Mom Saved Astronauts

The most famous and enduring part of Judith Love Cohen’s legacy is her instrumental role in the Apollo 13 mission. In 1970, an explosion crippled the spacecraft, leaving the three-person crew—Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise—stranded 200,000 miles from Earth. Their safe return depended on a complex, last-minute maneuver, and the hardware that made it possible was a system Cohen helped design.

Designing the Abort Guidance System (AGS)

Cohen was an electrical engineer working at TRW (now Northrop Grumman) on the Apollo Space Program. Her specific contribution was to the Abort Guidance System (AGS), a crucial backup computer on the Lunar Module. The AGS was originally intended only for use if the main guidance system failed during the lunar landing or ascent. However, during the Apollo 13 crisis, the AGS became the primary navigation system for the crippled command module.

The astronauts needed to perform a critical burn to adjust their course and return to Earth. The main guidance computer was shut down to conserve power, leaving the AGS to calculate the precise trajectory. Cohen's work on the system's computer and software proved to be the difference between life and death for the crew. The mission's success, famously dubbed a "successful failure," is a direct testament to the reliability and ingenuity of the backup systems, including the one Cohen helped create.

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The Birth of a Star and a Solution

Perhaps the most incredible anecdote linking her professional and personal life occurred on the day Jack Black was born. In August 1969, while in the hospital to give birth, Cohen brought a printout of a problem she was working on for the Apollo program. After delivering her son, she immediately called her office to report the solution to the engineering problem she had solved while in labor. This story perfectly encapsulates her dedication: a pioneering woman who seamlessly integrated motherhood with a high-stakes, demanding engineering career, solving a space problem just hours after solving the problem of childbirth.

Beyond Apollo: STEM Advocacy and Other Major Projects

Judith Love Cohen's career did not end with the Apollo program. She continued to contribute to major scientific endeavors and, later in life, dedicated herself to inspiring the next generation of female engineers.

The Hubble Space Telescope and NASA Projects

After her work on the Lunar Module, Cohen moved on to other critical NASA projects. She played a significant role in developing the technology for the Hubble Space Telescope, the iconic instrument that revolutionized astronomy and allowed humanity to see deeper into the cosmos than ever before. Her work also extended to the Ground Terminal for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), a network of communication satellites essential for NASA's low-Earth-orbit missions. Her tenure at TRW/Northrop Grumman solidified her reputation as one of the most important female engineers of her era.

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Paving the Way for Women in STEM

Recognizing the severe lack of women in her field, Cohen became an ardent advocate for gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She co-founded a publishing house and authored a series of inspirational children's books titled "You Can Be a Woman Engineer," "You Can Be a Woman Architect," and "You Can Be a Woman Astronomer." These books, often featuring her own daughter-in-law, were designed to show young girls that they could pursue any career they desired, regardless of traditional gender roles. This literary effort is a key part of her enduring legacy as a feminist and educator.

A Family of Engineers and Artists

Judith Love Cohen passed away in 2016 after a brief battle with cancer, but her influence lives on through her children. Her son, Neil Siegel, followed in her footsteps, becoming a highly respected computer scientist and engineer. Her youngest son, Jack Black, while taking a different path into the arts, often speaks of his mother's genius and her incredible impact on his life. The Black family is a remarkable example of how a single mother's passion for science can leave an indelible mark on both space exploration and global entertainment.