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How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America On The Moon

Marcus Bell

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Published in A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America On The Moon

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Katherine Johnson was an African-American mathematician who played a vital role in the early days of the U.S. space program. Her calculations helped to ensure the success of the Mercury and Apollo missions, and she was one of the first women to be inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918. She showed a talent for mathematics at an early age, and she went on to earn a degree in mathematics from West Virginia State College. In 1953, she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA),which was the predecessor to NASA. At NACA, Johnson worked as a "computer," performing complex mathematical calculations by hand.

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon

by Suzanne Slade

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	116411 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	39 pages

In 1961, Johnson was assigned to the Space Task Group, which was responsible for developing the Mercury spacecraft. She played a key role in calculating the trajectory of the Mercury capsule, and she also helped to develop the equations that were used to control the spacecraft's descent to the moon.

In 1969, Johnson was part of the team that calculated the trajectory of the Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first humans on the moon. Her calculations were essential to the success of the mission, and she was widely hailed as a hero.

Johnson retired from NASA in 1986, but she continued to work as a consultant for the space agency. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, and she was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2019.

Johnson's story is an inspiration to all who dream of achieving great things. She overcame prejudice and discrimination to become one of the most important figures in the history of space exploration. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Additional Information

Johnson was one of the first African-American women to be hired by NASA.
She was also one of the first women to be credited as an author on a NASA research paper.
In 2016, a movie was released about Johnson's life called "Hidden Figures."
Johnson died in 2020 at the age of 101.