

- #Katherine johnson nasa facts full
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And it was a joy to contribute to the literature that was going to be coming out.īut you know, math is the same. I like the stars and the stories we were telling. The main thing is I liked what I was doing.

I didn’t do anything alone but try to go to the root of the question – and succeeded there. Her calculations proved critical to the success of the Apollo Moon landings and the start of the Space Shuttle program. Katherine continued to work at NASA until 1986. It was the first time a woman in her division received credit as an author of a research report. Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Katherine Johnson Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. In 1960 she coauthored a paper with one of the group’s engineers about calculations for placing a spacecraft into orbit. But when they went to computers, they called over and said, "Tell her to check and see if the computer trajectory they had calculated was correct." So I checked it, and it was correct. Katherine Johnson At NASA Johnson was a member of the Space Task Group. You could do much more, much faster on the computer.


You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I'll do it backward and tell you when to take off." That was my forte.Įven after NASA had electronic computers, John Glenn requested that Katherine personally recheck the computer calculations before his 1962 Friendship 7 flight – the first American mission to orbit Earth. Make a straw rocket to investigate how changing the launch angle of a straw rocket changes the flight trajectory.As a human computer, Katherine calculated the trajectory for astronaut Alan Shepard’s 1961 Freedom 7 mission to space – the first spaceflight for an American.Įarly on, when they said they wanted the capsule to come down at a certain place, they were trying to compute when it should start. She passed away in February 2020 at the age of 101. Katherine worked for NASA for over 30 years before retiring in 1986. Katherine also worked on the space shuttle program and in the later part of her career spent time inspiring students to follow a STEM Career. Katherine calculated the trajectory for the 1961 space flight of Alan Shepherd and when computers were first used it was Katherine who checked their calculations were correct!! Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder.It is loosely based on the 2016 non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about three female African-American mathematicians: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. 24, 2020 Hometown : White Sulphur Springs, WV Education: B.S. These were women mathematicians who performed calculations that allowed NASA firstly, to put astronauts safely into orbit then onto the Moon! Portrait of Katherine Johnson Credits: NASA Born: Aug. The story of her groundbreaking contributions to NASA was later dramatized in the 2016 film Hidden Figures. She was born on 26 August, 1918, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S. Katherine was one of the NASA “human computers”. Jackson died in February 2005 at the age of 83. Katherine Johnson played a historical role as one of the first African-American women to work at NASA scientists. She was the first African-American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University and is known for her work on the United States’ aeronautics and space programs. Katherine Johnson was an African American physicist and mathematician. Katherine Johnson (born 1918) Johnson showed early brilliance in West Virginia schools by being promoted several years ahead of her age, according to NASA.
#Katherine johnson nasa facts free
She opened doors and created pathways for women and people of colour in STEM fields, leaving behind the most incredible legacy.Īt the bottom of this post is a FREE downloadable fact file and suggested activity related to Katherine Johnson’s work. Died: 24 February 2020, Newport News, Virginia, US.
#Katherine johnson nasa facts full
Katherine’s work was mostly unrecognised until very late in her life. Full name: Katherine Johnson (born Creola Katherine Coleman) Born: 26 August 1918, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, US. Katherine was one of the NASA human computers. The first scientist we’re going to learn about is the wonderful Katherine Johnson. Katherine Johnson was an African American physicist and mathematician. I’m going to highlight just a few of these pioneering women together with some simple science ideas related to their work. Women throughout history have made huge contributions to science, technology, engineering and maths fields, but have often been overlooked.
#Katherine johnson nasa facts series
Welcome to the first post in a new series about inspirational women scientists.
