36 Facts About Katherine Johnson

Creola Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent US crewed spaceflights.

Katherine Johnson's calculations were essential to the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, and she worked on plans for a mission to Mars.

Katherine Johnson was known as a "human computer" for her tremendous mathematical capability and ability to work with space trajectories with such little technology and recognition at the time.

Katherine Johnson was portrayed by Taraji P Henson as a lead character in the 2016 film Hidden Figures.

In 2019, Katherine Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress.

Katherine Johnson was born as Creola Katherine Coleman on August 26,1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to Joylette Roberta and Joshua McKinley Coleman.

Katherine Johnson's mother was a teacher and her father was a lumberman, farmer, and handyman.

Katherine Johnson took every course in mathematics offered by the college.

Katherine Johnson took on a teaching job at a black public school in Marion, Virginia.

Katherine Johnson quit at the end of the first session and chose to focus on her family life.

Katherine Johnson was the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Katherine Johnson decided on a career as a research mathematician, although this was a difficult field for African Americans and women to enter.

Katherine Johnson accepted a job offer from the agency in June 1953.

In order for Katherine Johnson to take the job, the family moved to Newport News.

At first she [Katherine Johnson] worked in a pool of women performing mathematical calculations.

Katherine Johnson has referred to the women in the pool as virtual "computers who wore skirts".

Katherine Johnson was assertive, asking to be included in editorial meetings.

Katherine Johnson simply told people she had done the work and that she belonged.

From 1953 to 1958, Katherine Johnson worked as a computer, analyzing topics such as gust alleviation for aircraft.

Originally assigned to the West Area Computers section supervised by mathematician Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson was reassigned to the Guidance and Control Division of Langley's Flight Research Division.

From 1958 until her retirement in 1986, Katherine Johnson worked as an aerospace technologist, moving during her career to the Spacecraft Controls Branch.

Katherine Johnson calculated the launch window for his 1961 Mercury mission.

Katherine Johnson plotted backup navigation charts for astronauts in case of electronic failures.

When NASA used electronic computers for the first time to calculate John Glenn's orbit around Earth, officials called on Katherine Johnson to verify the computer's numbers; Glenn had asked for her specifically and had refused to fly unless Katherine Johnson verified the calculations.

Katherine Johnson spent her later years encouraging students to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

James died of an inoperable brain tumor in 1956 and, three years later, Katherine married James A "Jim" Johnson, a United States Army officer and veteran of the Korean War; the pair were married for 60 years until his death in March 2019 at the age of 93.

Katherine Johnson, who had six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, lived in Hampton, Virginia.

Katherine Johnson encouraged her grandchildren and students to pursue careers in science and technology.

Katherine Johnson was a member of Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church for 50 years, where she sang as part of the choir.

Katherine Johnson died at a retirement home in Newport News on February 24,2020, at age 101.

Katherine Johnson was named West Virginia State College Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1999.

Katherine Johnson was cited as a pioneering example of African-American women in STEM.

Katherine Johnson attended this event, which marked the 55th anniversary of astronaut Alan Shepard's historic rocket launch and splashdown, a success Katherine Johnson helped achieve.

Katherine Johnson was included on the BBC's list of 100 Women of influence worldwide in 2016.

Science writer Maia Weinstock developed a prototype Lego for Women of NASA in 2016 and included Katherine Johnson; she declined to have her likeness printed on the final product.

In 2019, Katherine Johnson was announced as one of the members of the inaugural class of Government Executive Government Hall of Fame.