Katherine Johnson, a legendary NASA mathematician died Monday. She was 101-years old.
Johnson assisted the United States’ efforts in the first triumphs in human spaceflight and promoted STEM education. She was hired by NASA in 1953 after graduating from West Virginia State college and graduate school. She began her career at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, which today is known as NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Johnson’s most notable work came during the orbital mission of John Glenn as she assisted in the orbital equation calculations to ensure the security of astronauts’ lives. Glenn asked engineers to “get the girl” to figure out the calculations resulting in his statement: “If she says they’re good then I’m ready to go.” The mission resulted in a success for the United States.
“Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.
The work of Johnson during Glenn’s mission was show in Hidden Figures which saw Taraji P. Henson take on the role. In 2015, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
