FAQ About Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of United States spaceflights. She worked for NASA and its predecessor NACA, contributing significantly to the Project Mercury and Apollo missions.

Katherine Johnson's major contributions to NASA included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for Project Mercury and Apollo missions. Her work on the calculations for John Glenn's orbital flight in 1962 and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 was particularly noteworthy.

Katherine Johnson's full name is Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson.

Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, USA.

Katherine Johnson is most famous for her work on John Glenn's orbital mission, where she manually verified the orbital equations that had been programmed into the IBM computer. Glenn specifically requested that Johnson recheck the calculations, highlighting the trust placed in her expertise.

Katherine Johnson attended West Virginia State College, where she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French.

Katherine Johnson received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019, and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Katherine Johnson began her career at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1953, working in the West Area Computing unit that was composed entirely of African-American women. She later transitioned to NASA when it was formed in 1958.

"Hidden Figures" is a book by Margot Lee Shetterly, later adapted into a film, which tells the story of Katherine Johnson and her African-American colleagues at NASA whose work helped win the space race. The film brought her story to a widespread audience.

Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectory for the Apollo 11 flight to the Moon in 1969, ensuring that the mission would successfully bring humans to the lunar surface and return them safely back to Earth.

Yes, Katherine Johnson faced racial and gender discrimination throughout her career. Despite these challenges, she persevered and made historical contributions to space exploration, often working behind the scenes for much of her career before the wider recognition she later received.

After retiring from NASA in 1986, Katherine Johnson became an advocate for mathematics education, inspiring future generations through public speaking and appearances.

Katherine Johnson retired from NASA in 1986 after a distinguished career of over 33 years.

Yes, Katherine Johnson was married twice, first to James Goble and later to Lt. Colonel James A. Johnson, and she had three daughters: Constance, Joylette, and Katherine.

Katherine Johnson broke barriers for women and minorities in STEM fields. Her contributions and the recognition she eventually received have inspired countless women and minorities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

More detailed information about Katherine Johnson's life and contributions can be found in "Hidden Figures," official NASA publications, and numerous documentaries highlighting her work and legacy.

Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101.

Katherine Johnson focused on mathematics throughout her education and career, with a particular emphasis on celestial navigation and orbital mechanics during her time at NASA.

The publication of "Hidden Figures" and its subsequent film adaptation significantly raised the profile of Katherine Johnson and highlighted the critical yet often overlooked contributions of African-American women in science and space exploration.

Katherine Johnson is considered a pioneer because she broke racial and gender barriers at NASA and laid a foundation for future generations to enter and excel in scientific fields that were once largely inaccessible to African-American women.