Katherine Johnson The Mathematician who sent us to the Moon

Portrait of Katherine Johnson — Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) - The human "computer" who performed the calculations that sent astronauts into orbit and eventually to the moon.

Early Years and Education

Katherine Johnson, a pioneering figure in American mathematics and space exploration, was born Katherine Coleman in 1918 in the small town of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Even as a young child, her extraordinary mathematical abilities were evident, leading her to complete the eighth grade by the age of 10. However, her path was not without obstacles. Segregation in education meant that her local schools could not provide her with further schooling. Determined to support Katherine's academic pursuits, her family made the significant decision to relocate 120 miles to Institute, West Virginia, where she could attend a high school that served African American students.

At West Virginia State College, Katherine thrived under the guidance of Dr. William W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African American to earn a PhD in mathematics. She immersed herself in her studies, demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication. By the age of 18, she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in both mathematics and French.

Despite being selected for a program to desegregate West Virginia University's graduate school, Katherine chose a different path. She felt a strong calling to teach and embarked on a career educating others. Throughout the late 1930s, she shared her knowledge and passion for mathematics and French with students across various schools in Virginia and West Virginia. This experience instilled in her a deep commitment to education and laid the foundation for her future groundbreaking contributions.

Career at NASA

In 1952, Johnson applied for a position at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which was recruiting African American women as computational specialists. She joined the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in 1953.

Her exceptional computational skills and intellectual initiative quickly set her apart. Reflecting on her approach, she once said, “While others followed prescribed procedures, I sought to understand the underlying principles and asked analytical questions.

After NACA became NASA in 1958, Johnson played a key role in advancing human spaceflight. Her precise trajectory calculations were critical for Alan Shepard’s 1961 spaceflight, America’s first venture into space, and John Glenn’s 1962 orbital mission. Even as NASA adopted electronic computers, Johnson’s expertise remained vital, contributing to the Apollo 11 lunar landing in 1969 and the safe return of Apollo 13 in 1970 after its malfunction.

Until her retirement in 1986, Johnson made significant contributions to NASA’s Space Shuttle program and the Earth Resources Satellite project.

Awards and Accomplishments

Her exceptional career garnered numerous accolades, including the 1967 NASA Lunar Orbiter Spacecraft and Operations team award and the National Technical Association's 1997 Mathematician of the Year recognition. She also received honorary degrees from several prestigious institutions: SUNY Farmingdale, Maryland's Capitol College, Virginia's Old Dominion University, and West Virginia University.

In November 2015, President Barack Obama bestowed upon Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her remarkable story, along with those of her fellow African American computers, gained widespread recognition through Margot Lee Shetterly's 2016 book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race. The subsequent Oscar-nominated film adaptation, Hidden Figures, featured Taraji P. Henson portraying Johnson.

In September 2017, NASA commemorated Johnson's legacy by dedicating the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility at the Langley Research Center. Johnson, then 99, attended the ceremony with family and friends.

Timeline of Katherine Johnsons' Life:

August 26, 1918 - Katherine G. Johnson was born in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia.
1928 - Katherine finishes eighth grade at age 10.
1936 - Katherine graduates college at 18.
1939 - Katherine marries James Francis Goble.
1953 - Katherine accepts a job as a computer for NASA.
1956 - Katherine’s husband dies of a brain tumor.
1958 - Katherine gets assigned the first manned space mission.
1959 - Katherine remarries James A. Johnson.
1962 - Alan Sheppard makes the first journey to space.
1967 - Katherine wins the NASA Lunar Orbiter Spacecraft and Operations team award.
1969 - Apollo 13 makes it to the moon.
1986 - Katherine retires from NASA.
2015 - Barack Obama presents Katherine with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2017 - New NASA research building is named after Katherine Johnson.
February 24, 2020 - Katherine Johnson dies at 101 years old.

If you're interested in learning more about Katherine Johnsons' historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist, you can visit herWikipedia Page.