Date of Birth: August 26, 1918
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: February 24, 2020
Biography
Katherine Johnson 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. Born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Johnson displayed an early aptitude for mathematics, graduating from high school at the age of 14 and from West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University) at 18 with highest honors in mathematics and French. Johnson’s career began in teaching before she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which later became NASA. As a member of the Space Task Group, she calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space. Her work was so accurate that astronaut John Glenn requested that she personally recheck the calculations for his orbital mission. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Katherine Johnson broke barriers not only in her technical field but also in terms of gender and race, becoming a role model for women and African Americans in STEM. Her contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. She passed away in 2020 at the age of 101.
5 Interesting Facts about Katherine Johnson
1. Katherine Johnson was one of the first African American women to work as a NASA scientist.
2. She played a key role in the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first humans on the moon.
3. Her work was so reliable that astronaut John Glenn specifically requested her to recheck the calculations for his orbital mission.
4. Johnson co-authored 26 scientific papers, a rare accomplishment for women in her time.
5. She was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the 2016 film “Hidden Figures,” which highlighted her significant contributions to the space race.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Katherine Johnson
1. “We always worked as a team. It’s never just one person.”
2. “I see a picture right now that’s not parallel, but I see a way to make it look parallel.”
3. “Like what you do, and then you will do your best.”
4. “Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.”
5. “Everything is physics and math.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Katherine Johnson’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $2 million at the time of her death.
Children
Katherine Johnson had three daughters: Constance, Joylette, and Katherine.
Relevant Links
1. [NASA Biography of Katherine Johnson](https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography
