A Calculated Orbit – The Katherine Johnson Story

Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician, made significant contributions to the US space program. Working at NASA, she overcame racial and gender barriers, playing a key role in the success of the Mercury program and John Glenn’s orbit around Earth. Her precise calculations helped ensure the mission’s success. Johnson’s work, vital to space exploration, earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, highlighting her legacy as a trailblazer in science and mathematics.

Chronology

1. Early Life (1918-1937): Born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Coleman showed an early aptitude for mathematics. Due to limited educational opportunities for African-Americans, her family moved to Institute, West Virginia, so she could attend high school. She graduated from high school at 14 and enrolled at West Virginia State, a historically black college. Excelling in every math course offered, she graduated with highest honors in 1937 at the age of 18.
2. Early Career and Education (1938-1952): Katherine began her career as a teacher. In 1939, she was selected as one of three black students to integrate West Virginia University’s graduate school. While she left the program to start a family, this experience paved the way for her future at NASA.
3. Joining NACA/NASA (1953-1961): In 1953, Katherine began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA’s predecessor. She was part of the West Area Computing unit, a group of African-American women mathematicians. Despite facing racial and gender discrimination, her mathematical genius was quickly recognized.
4. Mercury Program (1961-1962): Katherine’s most significant work came during the Mercury program. Her calculations were critical for John Glenn’s 1962 mission, where he became the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn personally requested Katherine to recheck the electronic computer’s calculations, trusting her skills over the machine’s.
5. Continued Contributions (1962-1986): Katherine’s career at NASA spanned more than three decades. She played a crucial role in the Apollo Moon landing program and the early years of the Space Shuttle program, among other projects. Her expertise in orbital mechanics was a key factor in these missions’ success.
6. Recognition and Retirement (1986-2015): Katherine retired from NASA in 1986. Although her achievements were not widely known for many years, she started receiving public recognition later in her life. In 2015, at the age of 97, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
7. Legacy and Cultural Impact (2016 and beyond): Katherine’s story reached a broader audience with the 2016 film “Hidden Figures,” which highlighted the contributions of African-American women to NASA during the Space Race. Her life story continues to inspire many, particularly in advocating for women and minorities in STEM fields.

Story

Katherine Johnson was a pioneering African American mathematician who made significant contributions to the United States’ aeronautics and space programs with her work at NASA. Her story gained widespread recognition through the 2016 film “Hidden Figures.”

Born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine showed an exceptional talent for mathematics from a young age. Due to the segregation laws in place at the time, she had to overcome numerous obstacles to receive her education. She attended high school on the campus of West Virginia State College, a historically black college, and enrolled at the college at the age of 18. She graduated with highest honors in 1937, with degrees in mathematics and French.

She began her career as a teacher but in 1953, she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which was later incorporated into the newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At NASA, she was a member of the Space Task Group. In a time when women, especially African American women, were often given lesser roles, Johnson’s mathematical genius was undeniable and critical to the success of many missions.

Johnson’s most notable contributions were to the United States’ space program. She calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s 1961 flight (the first American in space), verified the computer-generated results for John Glenn’s orbit around Earth in 1962, and worked on the calculations for the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969. Her work was essential for ensuring the safety and success of these missions.

Katherine Johnson received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, which is one of the United States’ highest civilian honors. She passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101.

Her story is not just one of exceptional mathematical talent but also of perseverance and breaking barriers in a time of racial and gender discrimination. Katherine Johnson’s legacy continues to inspire many, particularly women and minorities in STEM fields.