Katherine Johnson

About

Katherine Johnson was a renowned American mathematician born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She demonstrated exceptional mathematical abilities from an early age, attending high school at 13 and graduating with honors in mathematics and French from West Virginia State University in 1937. Johnson began her career at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1953, where she worked as a "human computer," performing complex calculations essential to the success of early U.S. spaceflights. Johnson's contributions to NASA were pivotal, including calculating trajectories for Project Mercury, Apollo 11, and the Space Shuttle program. Her work ensured the safe return of astronauts in critical missions like Apollo 13. Johnson co-authored 26 research reports and was the first woman in her division to receive credit as an author. She received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Johnson's legacy extends beyond her technical achievements, inspiring generations to pursue STEM careers and challenging racial and gender barriers in her field. She retired from NASA in 1986 and passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101.