The Badge Archive

Famous Women – Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. She was a brilliant mathematician who worked for NASA. Katherine was really good at math from a young age and even started high school when she was just 10 years old.

In 1960, she coauthored a paper with one of the group’s engineers on the calculations needed to place a spacecraft into orbit. This was the first time a woman in her division received credit as an author of a research report.

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She is famous for her work at NASA, where she helped calculate the paths for spacecraft to travel safely to space and back.

  • She helped to send the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space in 1961.
  • She helped with the mission that sent astronauts to the Moon in 1969. Her calculations were essential for synchronizing Project Apollo’s Lunar Module with the lunar-orbiting Command and Service Module.
  • When Apollo 13 encountered a malfunction in space in 1970, her contributions to contingency procedures played a crucial role in ensuring its safe return.

Katherine Johnson faced many challenges because she was an African American woman working in a time when there were a lot of racial and gender barriers. Despite these challenges, she made significant contributions to space exploration and helped pave the way for future generations.

Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101

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“Katherine Johnson was courageous and strong! She faced so many challenges just to do a job she was really good at. She didn’t give up and helped keep the astronauts safe.” – Scout K., GSSJC – Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Juliette

Timeline

  • 1918 – Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
  • 1928 – She started high school when she was just 10 years old.
  • 1931 – She attended the historically black West Virginia State College.
  • 1936 – She found a mentor in math: Professor W. W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African American to earn a PhD in mathematics.
  • 1937 – She graduated with highest honors.
  • 1939 – Katherine Johnson married James Francis Goble in November. Dr. John W. Davis chose her, along with two men, to be the first African American students to be granted admission to West Virginia University, the state’s main university.
  • 1953 – Katherine and her husband moved their family to Newport News, Virginia, so she could accept a position in the all-black West Area Computing section at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA) Langley laboratory, led by fellow West Virginian Dorothy Vaughan. Katherine started working at Langley in the summer
  • 1956 – Her husband, James Francis Goble, with whom she had three daughters (Joylette, Katherine and Constance), died of a brain tumor.
  • 1958 – The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) officially became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1. NASA banned segregation.
  • 1959 – Katherine married James Johnson, a U.S. Army Captain.
  • 1960 – She coauthored a paper with one of the group’s engineers on the calculations needed to place a spacecraft into orbit. This was the first time a woman in her division received credit as an author of a research report. (She went on to author/coauthor a total of 26 research reports).
  • 1961 – She helped to send the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space
  • 1962 – Katherine Johnson was tasked with calculating the trajectory for John Glenn’s orbital flight. The mission required a global communications network linking tracking stations and IBM computers. Astronauts were cautious about relying on the computers, which could malfunction. Johnson’s calculations ensured the success of the mission.
  • 1967 – She was awarded the NASA Lunar Orbiter Spacecraft and Operations team award.
  • 1969 – She helped with the mission that sent astronauts to the Moon. Her calculations were essential for synchronizing Project Apollo’s Lunar Module with the lunar-orbiting Command and Service Module.
  • 1970 – When Apollo 13 encountered a malfunction in space, her contributions to contingency procedures played a crucial role in ensuring its safe return.
  • 1986 – She retired from NASA.
  • 1997 – The National Technical Association’s designated her as its Mathematician of the Year.
  • 2015 – President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • 2016 – Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly was published.
  • 2017 – The movie Hidden Figures was scheduled for general release on January 16th. NASA dedicated the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility in her honor on September 22.
  • 2019 – Her husband, James Johnson, died.
  • 2020 – Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, at the age of 101.

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References

Cooney, Samantha. “The Real-Life Star of Hidden Figures Speaks Out: “I Was Just Doing My Job.”” TIME, Time, 30 Jan. 2017, time.com/4653818/hidden-figures-katherine-johnson-interview/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

Editors, Biography.com. “Katherine Johnson – NASA, Death & Hidden Figures.” Biography, A&E; Television Networks, 11 Jan. 2021, http://www.biography.com/scientists/katherine-g-johnson. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Katherine Johnson | Biography & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Nov. 2018, http://www.britannica.com/biography/Katherine-Johnson-mathematician. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

July, Stargazer 10, and 2016 at 4:24 Pm. “NASA’s Female Pioneers – Rocket Women from History You Should Know.” Rocket Women, 31 Mar. 2016, rocket-women.com/2016/03/nasas-female-pioneers-women-from-history-you-should-know/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

Lindsey, Sue. “NASA Pioneer Katherine Johnson Q&A.” AARP, 19 Feb. 2018, http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2018/katherine-johnson-fd.html. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

Shetterly, Margot Lee. “Katherine Johnson Biography.” NASA, Margot Lee Shetterly, 22 Nov. 2016, http://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/katherine-johnson-biography/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Watson, Corinne. “The Little Old Ladies Who Weaved Their Way to the Moon.” Medium, 8 Mar. 2023, medium.com/@corinnewatson/the-little-old-ladies-who-weaved-their-way-to-the-moon-1a41935e8437. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

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