Katherine Johnson

mathematician · NASA · space exploration · African American pioneer

Human Computer. Katherine Johnson was so good at math that NASA called her a "human computer" because she could solve super complicated problems in her head and on paper faster and more accurately than almost anyone else.

Rocket Science Expert. Her calculations of orbital mechanics, how rockets and spaceships move through space, were absolutely critical to making sure astronauts like John Glenn could safely orbit Earth and return home.

Pioneer at NASA. Katherine worked at NASA for 33 years doing work that was so important and so hard that she became famous as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist.

Computing Pioneer. She helped show NASA that computers could do calculations that people used to have to do by hand, which changed how the whole space program worked.

Trusted Mathematician. Astronauts trusted Katherine's math so much that they would double-check her work before any mission, knowing that her numbers were always right.