Katherine Johnson

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson was born to Joshua and Joylette Coleman. She was the youngest of four children and showed a keen interest in numbers from a young age.

Johnson graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French, setting the stage for her future career in mathematics and science.

Johnson was selected as one of the first three African American students to attend the graduate program at West Virginia University, where she studied mathematics.

Johnson begins her career at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later becomes NASA, as a research mathematician in the West Area Computing section.

Johnson's calculations for the trajectory of the Friendship 7 mission, which made John Glenn the first American to orbit the Earth, were critical for the success of the mission.

Johnson's work on the Apollo 11 mission, including the backup procedures and navigation charts, played a crucial role in the successful moon landing.

After a 33-year career at NASA, Johnson retires, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking contributions to space exploration and a trailblazing path for women and African Americans in STEM.

Johnson is awarded an honorary doctorate in law from West Virginia State University, recognizing her significant contributions to mathematics and space exploration.

President Barack Obama awards Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, for her pioneering work in space exploration.

Katherine Johnson dies at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and a lasting impact on the fields of mathematics and space exploration.