Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician whose work at NASA played a critical role in the success of some of America’s most famous space missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing. For decades, her contributions to the U.S. space program were largely overlooked, but Johnson’s story has since come to light as an inspiring tale of resilience, intellect, and determination. As one of the women featured in the book and film Hidden Figures, Johnson’s groundbreaking work not only helped send astronauts to space but also broke racial and gender barriers in a segregated society.
This article will explore Katherine Johnson’s early life, her remarkable career at NASA, her contributions to space exploration, and her lasting legacy as a pioneer in science and mathematics.
Early Life: A Passion for Numbers
Katherine Johnson, born Creola Katherine Coleman on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, displayed a remarkable talent for mathematics from a young age. Her parents, Joshua and Joylette Coleman, recognized her gifts early on and were determined to ensure she received the best education possible. However, White Sulphur Springs did not offer public schooling for Black students beyond the eighth grade, so Johnson’s family made the decision to move to Institute, West Virginia, where she could attend high school at West Virginia State College’s campus school.
Johnson graduated high school at the age of 14 and then enrolled at West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), a historically Black college. There, she studied under renowned mathematician Dr. W.W. Schieffelin Claytor, who encouraged her to pursue her passion for math. Johnson’s academic excellence earned her a degree in mathematics and French in 1937, at just 18 years old.
In 1939, Johnson was one of the first three African American students to integrate West Virginia University’s graduate program after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada. However, she left the program after one semester to focus on her family, but her love for mathematics never waned.
A Career at NASA: Breaking Barriers
In 1953, Katherine Johnson began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which would later become NASA. She was hired as a “computer,” a term used at the time to describe people, often women, who performed complex mathematical calculations by hand. Johnson was assigned to the all-Black West Area Computing section, which was segregated from the rest of the organization. Despite the racial and gender barriers that surrounded her, Johnson quickly distinguished herself as a talented and accurate mathematician.
Johnson’s big break came in 1958 when she was temporarily assigned to the all-male Flight Research Division. Her skills and precision were so impressive that she was asked to remain with the team, becoming the first African American woman to work as an aerospace technologist at NASA. Johnson’s expertise in celestial navigation and orbital mechanics made her indispensable to NASA’s space program, and she soon became an integral part of the agency’s efforts to send astronauts into space.
Pioneering Contributions to Space Exploration
Katherine Johnson’s most famous contributions came during NASA’s early space missions, where her mathematical calculations helped ensure the success of several high-profile flights.
The Mercury Missions
In 1961, NASA was preparing for the first American manned spaceflight, the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission, which would send astronaut Alan Shepard into space. Johnson’s calculations were critical to determining the launch window and trajectory for Shepard’s suborbital flight. Her work on this mission marked her as one of the leading mathematicians at NASA, and it was clear that her talents would be essential for future space missions.
John Glenn’s Orbital Flight
Perhaps Johnson’s most well-known accomplishment came in 1962 during John Glenn’s historic mission aboard Friendship 7, when he became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. At the time, NASA had begun using electronic computers to calculate flight trajectories, but Glenn, aware of Johnson’s reputation for accuracy, specifically requested that she verify the computer’s calculations before his flight. “Get the girl,” Glenn famously said, referring to Johnson. Trusting her expertise over the new technology, Glenn would not proceed with the mission until Johnson confirmed the numbers. Her calculations were flawless, and the mission was a resounding success, cementing her reputation as one of NASA’s top mathematicians.
The Apollo Program and the Moon Landing
Katherine Johnson’s work continued to play a crucial role in NASA’s space exploration efforts. During the 1960s, she contributed to the calculations that guided the Apollo program, including the famous Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first humans on the moon in 1969. Johnson’s expertise in orbital mechanics helped determine the precise trajectories that allowed astronauts to travel from Earth to the moon and return safely.
In addition to her work on Apollo 11, Johnson worked on the Apollo 13 mission, which faced a life-threatening emergency when an oxygen tank exploded. Her calculations helped NASA engineers develop a safe trajectory to bring the astronauts back to Earth, saving their lives.
Overcoming Segregation and Gender Discrimination
Throughout her career, Katherine Johnson had to navigate the dual challenges of racism and sexism. NASA’s offices, like much of the country, were segregated when she first started working there. The West Area Computing section where she worked was segregated by both race and gender, and Johnson was often excluded from important meetings or briefings simply because she was a Black woman.
However, Johnson’s intelligence, determination, and work ethic helped her break down many of these barriers. She refused to be sidelined, asserting herself in meetings and ensuring that her voice was heard. As NASA began to desegregate in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Johnson was at the forefront of a new era in the space program, demonstrating that talent and dedication were more important than the color of one’s skin or gender.
Recognition and Legacy
Despite her pivotal role in America’s space achievements, Katherine Johnson’s contributions remained relatively unknown to the public for much of her career. It wasn’t until the publication of the book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly in 2016, followed by the acclaimed film adaptation, that Johnson and her colleagues, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, received the widespread recognition they deserved.
In the years since Hidden Figures brought her story to light, Katherine Johnson has been celebrated as a trailblazer and a symbol of perseverance. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of her contributions to space exploration and civil rights.
In 2019, NASA dedicated the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility at the Langley Research Center in Virginia, further honoring her legacy as a mathematician and pioneer.
Inspiring Future Generations
Katherine Johnson’s story is more than just one of remarkable achievements in mathematics and space exploration—it is also a story of perseverance, determination, and breaking down barriers. As a Black woman in a segregated and male-dominated field, Johnson’s journey required extraordinary resilience. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of women, particularly women of color, to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Johnson’s work helped pave the way for greater diversity and inclusion in science and technology, showing that talent and intellect have no boundaries. Her life’s work is a powerful reminder that, despite the obstacles, excellence and dedication can overcome prejudice and open new doors for others.
Katherine Johnson’s Enduring Legacy
Katherine Johnson’s contributions to NASA’s space program changed the course of American history. Her brilliance in mathematics helped guide astronauts safely to space and back, and her pioneering work broke through racial and gender barriers, transforming the landscape of STEM for future generations.
Johnson’s legacy extends far beyond her calculations—she is a symbol of what is possible when determination meets opportunity. Her story, once hidden, now serves as an inspiration for anyone who faces challenges on the path to success. Katherine Johnson’s place in history is secure as a trailblazer, a hidden figure no more.
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