In honor of Black History Month, we celebrate the life and legacy of Katherine Johnson, a true Black History (S)hero.
Current Events
In case you’re thinking you might be unfamiliar with Mrs. Johnson, you may remember her as a history-making NASA mathematician. In fact, Taraji P. Henson portrayed her in the 2016 Oscar-nominated film “Hidden Figures” about the trailblazing black women whose work at NASA was indispensable during the space race.
Katherine Johnson launched her illustrious career in 1953 working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) at the Langley Laboratory in Virginia. However, her greatest contribution to space exploration came when she made the calculations that helped to sync Project Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module. In fact, she did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s 1961 mission Freedom 7 (which was America’s first human spaceflight) and was integral in putting men on the moon in 1969.
She was also lauded for work that greatly contributed to the first American orbital spaceflight, which was piloted by John Glenn.
The 1962 flight required the construction of a “worldwide communications network” to link tracking stations around the world to computers in Washington, D.C., Cape Canaveral, and Bermuda. According to NASA, astronauts were reluctant about “putting their lives in the care of the electronic calculating machines, which were prone to hiccups and blackouts.” So, Glenn told engineers to “get the girl” (referring to Katherine Johnson) to run the computer equations by hand.
“If she says they’re good, then I’m ready to go,” Glenn said of Mrs. Johnson.
“Glenn’s flight was a success and marked a turning point in the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in space,” NASA said.
In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.
Katherine Johnson passed away on Monday at the age of 101. Today, her full and lengthy life is being celebrated.
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Our @NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old. She was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten. https://t.co/UPOqo0sLfb pic.twitter.com/AgtxRnA89h
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) February 24, 2020
“[Katherine] Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement. Calling her “an American hero,” he also tweeted: “The @NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson’s courage and the milestones we could not have reached without her. Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world.”
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After a lifetime of reaching for the stars, today, Katherine Johnson landed among them. She spent decades as a hidden figure, breaking barriers behind the scenes. But by the end of her life, she had become a hero to millions—including Michelle and me. pic.twitter.com/isG29nwBiB
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 24, 2020
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Rest in power, Katherine Johnson. You are a true American, NASA, and Black History hero!
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DJ, I looked forward to you doing this post since hearing of her passing.
This incredible woman was a mathematical genius and a True American treasure. I applaud the author Margot Lee Shetterly for her non-fiction book ‘Hidden Figures’ which chronicles the invaluable contributions of Black-America female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race.
Frankly, I doubt a movie about Ms. Johnson and the other incredible women would ever have been made had it not been for the book. Btw- I love the movie and, to date, have watched it at least 3 times.
May this great woman Rest in Peace.