Breaking Barriers: the Inspiring Life of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician

Katherine Johnson was a pioneering mathematician whose work at NASA helped send astronauts into space. Her story is one of determination, intelligence, and breaking racial and gender barriers during a time of great social change.

Early Life and Education

Katherine Johnson was born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. From a young age, she showed a talent for math and excelled in school. She attended West Virginia State University, where she graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French.

Career at NASA

Johnson started working at NASA (then NACA) in 1953. Her role involved complex calculations to help determine flight trajectories. Her skills were so exceptional that she became a vital part of the team working on space missions.

Key Contributions

Calculating the trajectory for John Glenn’s historic orbital flight in 1962.
Contributing to the Apollo moon landing missions.
Developing computer algorithms by verifying electronic calculations.

Her work was crucial in ensuring the safety and success of these missions, often involving complex math that computers couldn’t handle at the time.