Katherine Johnson, Famous NASA Mathematician Depicted in ‘Hidden Figures,’ Dies at 101
Pastor Dewey Moede
Former NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson is seen after President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Johnson's computations have influenced every major space program from Mercury through the Shuttle program. Johnson was hired as a research mathematician at the Langley Research Center with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the agency that preceded NASA, after they opened hiring to African-Americans and women. Johnson exhibited exceptional technical leadership and is known especially for her calculations of the 1961 trajectory for Alan Shepard’s flight (first American in space), the 1962 verification of the first flight calculation made by an electronic computer for John Glenn’s orbit (first American to orbit the earth), and the 1969 Apollo 11 trajectory to the moon. In her later NASA career, Johnson worked on the Space Shuttle program and the Earth Resources Satellite and encouraged students to pursue careers in science and technology fields.
What a role model for us all!! PTL!! If you have not seen the movie, you should! So very inspiring!
From my Brother Chuck!
Chuck AkeleyWhat an amazing story! She is proof that hard work and integrity create opportunities, regardless of, or in spite of, or in the face of, those who might have personal biases or situations involving institutional barriers. Whom God appoints, He equips! We should take notice and thank Him for His goodness. I pray that the peace beyond understanding would rest upon her family during this time of loss
Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician depicted in ‘Hidden Figures,’ dies at 101
Johnson was famously depicted by actress Taraji P. Henson in the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie “Hidden Figures.”
