Last Updated: 26 Aug, 2023 | Views: 582
Age: 101
Profession: Scientist
Other Profession(s): Writer, Mathematician, Teacher, Computer scientist
Famous For: Calculations of orbital mechanics
Higher Education: Graduated
About (Profile/Biography):
Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918 and died on February 24, 2020. He was an American mathematician. Katherine Johnson graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Mathematics and French from West Virginia State College in 1937. She calculated the trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for various missions, including the historic Mercury and Apollo programs.
Katherine Johnson Career:
Katherine Johnson Human "Computer" at NASA:
• In 1953, Katherine Johnson joined NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
• Johnson's exceptional mathematical skills and attention to detail quickly earned her recognition.
Katherine Johnson Contributions to Space Missions:
• Katherine Johnson made significant contributions to the early space missions of NASA. Her work was vital in ensuring the success and safety of these missions.
Katherine Johnson Accuracy and Trust:
• Johnson's calculations were known for their remarkable accuracy, and her work was trusted by some of NASA's most prominent engineers, including John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth.
• Glenn requested that Johnson personally verify the calculations made by the newly introduced electronic computers, stating, "Get the girl to check the numbers... If she says they're good, then I'm ready to go."
Katherine Johnson Integration at NASA:
• During a time of racial segregation, Katherine Johnson faced significant challenges as an African-American woman working in a predominantly white and male environment.
• Despite the obstacles, she persisted and gained the respect of her colleagues with her exceptional skills and professionalism.
Katherine Johnson Later Career and Legacy:
• Johnson worked at NASA for over three decades, including during the transition from NACA to NASA.
• She co-authored numerous research reports and retired from the agency in 1986.
• Johnson's contributions gained broader recognition with the release of the book "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly in 2016, which showcased the important work of Johnson and other African-American women mathematicians at NASA.
Katherine Johnson Katherine Johnson Award:
• 1977: NASA Group Achievement Award
• 2015: Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 2016: Silver Snoopy award from Leland Melvin
• 2016: Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Arthur B.C. Walker II Award
• 2019: Congressional Gold Medal
• 2021: Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame