Mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose orbital mechanics calculations played a vital role in so many NASA missions, was born #OTD in 1918. John Glenn trusted her calculations more than his onboard flight computer.
Image: NASA
Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectory followed by Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 capsule, launched atop a Redstone missile, when he became the first American in space in 1961. The flight lasted 15 minutes and took him 101 miles above the Earth.
Image: NASA
Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectory followed by Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 capsule, launched atop a Redstone missile, when he became the first American in space in 1961. The flight lasted 15 minutes and took him 101 miles above the Earth.Image: NASA
Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectory followed by Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 capsule, launched atop a Redstone missile, when he became the first American in space in 1961. The flight lasted 15 minutes and took him 101 miles above the Earth.Image: NASA
And when John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, circling three times in the Friendship 7 capsule? He didn’t trust the computer controlled trajectory until Katherine Johnson had checked it by hand.
Credit: NASA
And when John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, circling three times in the Friendship 7 capsule? He didn’t trust the computer controlled trajectory until Katherine Johnson had checked it by hand.Credit: NASA
And when John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, circling three times in the Friendship 7 capsule? He didn’t trust the computer controlled trajectory until Katherine Johnson had checked it by hand.Credit: NASA
And when John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, circling three times in the Friendship 7 capsule? He didn’t trust the computer controlled trajectory until Katherine Johnson had checked it by hand.Credit: NASA
Last year Katherine Johnson published an autobiography. It’s an all-ages book that beautifully tells her story without sugarcoating her experiences with racism. It got rave reviews across the board. Here’s a @CommonSense review rating it ages 10+: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/reaching-for-the-moon-the-autobiography-of-nasa-mathematican-katherine-johnson">https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-revi...
Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematican Katherine Johnson - Book Review

Must-read true story of trailblazing NASA mathematician. Read Common Sense Media's Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematican Katherine Johnson review, age rating, and parents...

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/reaching-for-the-moon-the-autobiography-of-nasa-mathematican-katherine-johnson
Here is a shorter bio of Johnson, written for @NASA by “Hidden Figures” author @margotshetterly. https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography">https://www.nasa.gov/content/k...
Katherine Johnson Biography

NASA brings you images, videos and features from the unique perspective of America's space agency. Get updates on missions, watch NASA TV, read blogs, view the latest discoveries, and more.

https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography
And if you’d like to introduce younger kids to the legacy of Katherine Johnson (and Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Christine Darden) consider the beautifully written and illustrated adaptation of “Hidden Figures” by @margotshetterly and Laura Freeman.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/hidden-figures-the-true-story-of-four-black-women-and-the-space-race">https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-revi...
Katherine Johnson also worked on calculations that allowed the Apollo’s Lunar Module to rejoin the Command and Service Module back in orbit, Space Shuttle missions, and the Earth Resources Technology Satellite.
In 2015, Katherine Johnson received the Mational Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
Image: Kevin Dietsch/UPI
And in 2017, @NASA’s Langley Research Center named its new Computational Research Facility after her. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/nasa-langley-s-katherine-johnson-computational-research-facility-officially-opens">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/l...
NASA Langley’s Katherine Johnson Computational Research Facility Opens

The Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility was dedicated Sept. 22 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/nasa-langley-s-katherine-johnson-computational-research-facility-officially-opens
Katherine Johnson passed away earlier this year, at the age of 101. Editorial cartoonist Steve Breen’s lovely tribute captured Johnson’s contributions to the US space program.
Credit: @sdutBreen
Source: #click=https://t.co/xUGeShWOHT">https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/steve-breen/story/2020-02-24/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-dies-at-101?_amp=true #click=https://t.co/xUGeShWOHT">https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/s...
“Everything was so new — the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them.”
— Katherine Johnson
Image Credit: NASA, NASA Langley Research Center
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