Katherine Johnson
NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts to space.
Their Story
Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who worked at NASA during the early years of the space program. She calculated the flight paths for missions, including John Glenn's orbit of Earth and the Apollo missions to the Moon. Astronauts trusted her hand calculations so much that they asked her to double-check the computers.
Era
1900s
Field
Mathematics
Katherine Johnson
NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts to space.
Math · Mathematics · 1900s · Women in STEM, Black Innovators
Their Story
Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who worked at NASA during the early years of the space program. She calculated the flight paths for missions, including John Glenn's orbit of Earth and the Apollo missions to the Moon. Astronauts trusted her hand calculations so much that they asked her to double-check the computers.
Key Innovation
Calculated precise spaceflight trajectories that helped launch and safely return American astronauts.
Why It Matters Today
Her work shows how math turns big dreams—like space travel—into careful, checkable plans students can understand today.
Learn More
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson
Wilkinson STEM Education Foundation · 251 American Innovators · wilkinsonstemfoundation.org
