Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson, born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, was a mathematical prodigy whose brilliance helped shape the future of space exploration. From an early age, her talent for numbers was evident, and she excelled in school, completing high school by age 14 and graduating summa cum laude from West Virginia State College at 18 with degrees in mathematics and French. Determined to pursue her passion for numbers despite the barriers of race and gender, Katherine became one of the first African American women to work at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA.

During her 33-year career at NASA, Katherine Johnson played a pivotal role in some of the most significant moments in space exploration. Her work included calculating trajectories for early missions, such as Alan Shepard's first American manned spaceflight and John Glenn's historic orbit of Earth in 1962. Glenn famously insisted that Katherine personally verify the computer's calculations before his flight, a testament to her unparalleled expertise and precision. She also contributed to the Apollo 11 mission that landed humans on the moon and worked on the Space Shuttle program. Katherine’s contributions were not only groundbreaking in the field of mathematics and engineering but also instrumental in breaking racial and gender barriers in a segregated America.

Katherine retired from NASA in 1986, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, perseverance, and excellence. Her story gained widespread recognition through the 2016 film Hidden Figures, which celebrated her and her colleagues' contributions. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. Katherine passed away on February 24, 2020, in Newport News, Virginia, at the age of 101. Her remarkable life continues to inspire countless individuals to pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they face.