Katherine Johnson

Creola Katherine Johnson (née Coleman, previously Goble; August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was an American mathematician and human computer. Her important work helped the United States make breakthroughs in space travel. She worked for NASA and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, for over thirty years. Katherine was known for doing difficult math problems by hand. This helped scientists and astronauts plan their missions safely.

Katherine’s calculations were important for many famous space missions. She figured out the paths that spacecraft should take and when they should launch. Her work was vital for the Project Mercury missions. She helped astronauts like Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. She also helped plan the trips to the Moon for the Apollo missions. She made sure the Lunar Module and command module could meet up again safely.

Because of her amazing contributions, Katherine received many honors. In 2015, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2016, she was awarded the Silver Snoopy Award by astronaut Leland D. Melvin and a NASA Group Achievement Award. The story of her life was shown in the film Hidden Figures, played by actress Taraji P. Henson. In 2019, the United States Congress awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal, and NASA named a new facility after her in West Virginia. Even after she passed away, Katherine was honored in 2021 by being added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. Her work inspired many people, especially young women and girls interested in science and space.

Early life

Katherine Johnson was born Creola Katherine Coleman on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She was the youngest of four children and loved math from a young age. Her home county did not offer public schooling for African-American students beyond eighth grade, so her family sent her to a high school in Institute, West Virginia. She graduated when she was only 14 years old.

She then attended West Virginia State College, a historically black college, and graduated at 18 with degrees in mathematics and French. She later became the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Career

Katherine Johnson started working in 1953 at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. She was a mathematician who calculated paths and other important information for early space missions. Even though she faced unfair treatment, her skill and accuracy earned respect from her coworkers.

Johnson’s calculations were important for many historic missions, including the first American spaceflight by Alan Shepard in 1961 and John Glenn’s orbit around Earth. She also helped plan the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 and supported the Apollo 13 mission by making backup navigation charts. Throughout her career, Johnson inspired many and encouraged students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Personal life and death

Katherine Johnson had three daughters with her first husband, James Francis Goble. She later married James A. "Jim" Johnson, a United States Army officer. They were married for 60 years until he died in 2019. Johnson lived in Hampton, Virginia, and had six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She encouraged many young people to study science and technology.

She was a member of Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church for 50 years and sang in the choir. She passed away at a retirement home in Newport News on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine praised her as an American hero.

Legacy and honors

Katherine Johnson inspired many people in space science and computing. She received many awards for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015. NASA honored her as one of the first African-American women to work as a scientist there.

Several schools, buildings, and a satellite were named after her. NASA named a research facility and another building after her. A satellite and a spacecraft also carried her name. Her story continues to inspire young people, especially girls and African-Americans, to study science and technology.

Depiction in media

The film Hidden Figures, released in 2016, tells the story of Katherine Johnson and other African-American women who worked at NASA. The movie is based on a book and stars Taraji P. Henson as Johnson. Johnson liked the film and praised the actors. She also appeared at the 89th Academy Awards and received a standing ovation. Later, she was portrayed by Nadine Ellis in an episode of the NBC series Timeless titled "Space Race".

Awards

Katherine Johnson received many awards for her important work. She was given the NASA Langley Research Center Special Achievement award several times. In 1977, she and her team received the NASA Group Achievement Award for their work on the Apollo program.

She also earned honorary doctorates from many universities. These include SUNY Farmingdale, Capitol College, Old Dominion University, West Virginia University, Spelman College, the College of William & Mary, and the University of Johannesburg.

Johnson was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the Silver Snoopy award in 2016, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2021 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024.