Katherine Johnson, née Katherine Coleman, also known as (1939–56) Katherine Goble, (born August 26, 1918, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S.—died February 24, 2020, Newport News, Virginia), American mathematician who
calculated and analyzed the flight paths of many spacecraft during her more than three decades
…
How did Katherine Johnson impact the world?
She
figured out the paths for the spacecraft to orbit (go around) Earth and to land on the Moon
. NASA used Katherine’s math, and it worked! NASA sent astronauts into orbit around Earth. Later, her math helped send astronauts to the Moon and back.
What did Katherine Johnson major in?
Johnson received her B.S. degree in
French and mathematics
in 1932 from West Virginia State University (formerly West Virginia State College). In 1940, she attended West Virginia University to obtain a graduate degree. Johnson was one of the first African Americans to enroll in the mathematics program.
What contributions did Katherine Johnson make?
Katherine Johnson, the trailblazing NASA mathematician, wins
the Hubbard Medal
for her calculations that made space exploration possible. Long before today’s technology was invented, Katherine Johnson was known as a computer. She calculated flight trajectories, by hand, for the United States space program.
Why is Katherine Johnson famous for kids?
Using her mathematics skills, she
helped NASA send astronauts to the moon and return them safely home
. She also overcame racial and gender hurdles that helped make giant leaps for humankind. Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on August 26, 1918.
Who was the first black woman in NASA?
Mary W. Jackson
: NASA’s First Female African American Engineer | NASA.
Why is Katherine Johnson a hero?
Johnson
helped prepare the geometry calculations for Alan Shepard’s May 1961 flight
, the United States’ first human spaceflight. She also helped to complete and verify the calculations for John Glenn’s flight in 1962, which was the first successful orbit in space.
Is Katherine a Russian spy?
Katherine is a
Russian spy
.
Who was the first mathematician in the world?
One of the earliest known mathematicians were
Thales of Miletus
(c. 624–c. 546 BC); he has been hailed as the first true mathematician and the first known individual to whom a mathematical discovery has been attributed.
“Hidden Figures” focuses on three computers:
Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan
. Here are brief biographies of these women.
Katherine Johnson was the last of
that trio still alive as Dorothy Vaughan passed away in 2008 and Mary Jackson passed away in 2005 according to NBC News.
What grades did Katherine Johnson skip?
Johnson’s academic performance proved her father’s decision was the right one: Katherine skipped though grades
to graduate from high school at 14, from college at 18
.
From 1958 until her retirement in 1986, Johnson worked as
an aerospace technologist
, moving during her career to the Spacecraft Controls Branch. She calculated the trajectory for the May 5, 1961 space flight of Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
