Also American

Person · 1918–2020

Katherine Johnson

The NASA mathematician whose calculations sent Americans into orbit and to the Moon — one of the "hidden figures" of the space race.

A long-hidden giant of [[black-science]].

A mathematical prodigy, Katherine Johnson computed the trajectories for Alan Shepard's flight and verified the orbital math for John Glenn, who refused to fly until "the girl" had checked the numbers. She worked on the Apollo Moon missions and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Science & Invention

On the timeline

  1. February 20, 1962
    Katherine Johnson and the flight of Friendship 7

    NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson verifies the orbital calculations for John Glenn's spaceflight — one of the "hidden figures" of the space race.

Resources