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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKatherine Johnson, first African-American woman NASA scientist, born this date...
Katherine Johnson (née Coleman; August 26, 1918 February 24, 2020) 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. crewed spaceflights.[1] During her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform the tasks. The space agency noted her "historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist".[2]
Johnson's work included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for Project Mercury spaceflights, including those for astronauts Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American in orbit, and rendezvous paths for the Apollo Lunar Module and command module on flights to the Moon. Her calculations were also essential to the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, and she worked on plans for a mission to Mars. She was known as a "human computer" for her tremendous mathematical capability and ability to work with space trajectories with such little technology and recognition at the time.
In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2016, she was presented with the Silver Snoopy Award by NASA astronaut Leland D. Melvin and a NASA Group Achievement Award. She was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson as a lead character in the 2016 film Hidden Figures. In 2019, Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress.[3] In 2021, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.[4]
Katherine Johnson
[ Edit to add clickable image of Katherine Johnson's autobiography: ]
ProfessorGAC
(64,827 posts)And such a compelling story.
irisblue
(32,916 posts)Samrob
(4,298 posts)electric_blue68
(14,807 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,236 posts)As described on:
https://katherinejohnson.net/
electric_blue68
(14,807 posts)Oh, I really like the cover on the one you linked to.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,236 posts)electric_blue68
(14,807 posts)No, sorry, it popped up in my Bronx Library Big book list feed....
So unless you live in The Bronx, Manhattan, or Staten Island which I assume you aren't then you couldn't access it.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,236 posts)ebook and hard copy
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=katherine+johnson+my+remarkable+journey&t=h_&ia=web
electric_blue68
(14,807 posts)niyad
(113,021 posts)Staph
(6,251 posts)Speeches, a wreath-laying at her statue on campus, and the awarding of three scholarships in her name.
https://www.lootpress.com/west-virginia-state-university-to-host-katherine-johnson-day-observance-friday-aug-26/
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,236 posts)Enter stage left
(3,394 posts)We've probably watched it 10-15 times and will watch it again.
It tells the true story of 3 of the great black women that were incredibly important to NASA and our success in getting astronauts into orbit and to the moon.
Katherine Johnson was one of them.