Imagine being the person responsible for doing the calculations necessary to send the first astronauts into space. It’s a job that required a brilliant mind, especially when you consider the fact that back then, all of the calculations has to be done by hand. NASA knew there was no better person for the task than mathematician Katherine Johnson.
The year was 1953 and Johnson became the African-American woman ever to be employed by the agency as a scientist.
You probably know her from the 2016 movie Hidden Figures, but at NASA, she is largely known as the “human computer”. Her mathematical abilities are simply off the charts.
“Everything was so new – the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them,” said Johnson.
Johnson worked with the agency for over 35 years from 1953 to 1988 in which time she participated in dozens of breakthrough projects.
When astronaut Alan Shepherd became the first American to travel into space, Johnson was one of the main people responsible. She and her colleagues completed all of the calculations that allowed him to travel safely into the unexplored interstellar territory and return safely.
Shortly after, Johnson performed the trajectory analyzing calculations that helped astronaut John Glenn to become the first American in orbit.
One might suspect that the stressful job would have affected her health negatively. However, it turns out that is definitely not the case. Just a few weeks ago, Johnson turned 101 years old!
📊 Mathematician
💻 Human computer
📚 Author of scientific papersToday, we celebrate the 101st birthday of Katherine Johnson, a human computer who calculated trajectories that launched @NASA_Astronauts into orbit: https://t.co/VT4EYFT2qI pic.twitter.com/sdEMSMLDsU
— NASA (@NASA) August 26, 2019
She was born over a century ago on August 26th, 1918, yet she is showing no signs of slowing down.
As far as accomplishments go, Johnson has had a pretty incredible last few years.
In 2015, President Barrack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award bestowed on those who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
In 2016, Hidden Figures came out.
The movie celebrated Johnson as well as the two other brilliant African-American woman at NASA who were the unseen faces behind some of the agency’s greatest early space achievements.
Then, in 2017, NASA even named a new research facility after Johnson.
They called it the “Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility”. The state-of-the-art lab is now used to conduct studies and investigations regarding the future of space exploration.
Johnson was also named by the BBC one of the top 100 influential women of all time.
It’s a title that is very well deserved. What she has been able to accomplish during her time on this planet is nothing short of incredible, especially when you take into account her background.
1950s America was a different era, and back then, it was not at all common to see a woman, especially an African-American woman in such a consequential position. However, NASA saw huge potential in her and invited her to join the team.
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” said Johnson.
Johnson is extremely confident in her abilities, yet despite her huge impact on the world, still remains modest. It’s a humbling combination. We can all learn a thing or two from Johnson and her unwavering dedication to the sciences. She is such an inspirational figure for women and men everywhere, and we wish her many more years of health to come. Happy 101st birthday!
Check out the video below celebrating the ribbon cutting at NASA for the “Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility”.
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