Many were introduced to Katherine Johnson through the book and movie Hidden Figures, but NASA knew her as a brilliant mathematician and computer scientist who helped America reach the moon.

Born Creola Katherine Coleman in 1918, she showed early signs of mathematical genius. However, Greenbrier County, WV, did not offer education beyond 8th grade for Black children. Determined to provide their children with an education, Katherine’s parents arranged for them to be schooled in Institute, WV. The family split their time between White Sulphur Springs and Institute so she could continue her studies.

📚 At just 14 years old, Katherine graduated high school and immediately enrolled in West Virginia State College (an HBCU). She took every math class offered and was mentored by several professors. By 18, she graduated summa cum laude and took a teaching job before enrolling in West Virginia University, becoming the first Black woman in their graduate program. Unfortunately, due to family pressure, she had to drop out.

📊 Breaking Barriers at NACA & NASA

In 1952, Katherine was selected as a mathematician for NACA (the predecessor to NASA). The program hired both Black and white mathematicians, and while she initially worked in a computing pool analyzing black box data from planes, her expertise in analytical geometry led an all-male flight research team to “borrow” her—and they refused to give her back.

🚧 Virginia’s segregation laws meant the computing teams were divided by race, but Katherine focused on her work, saying that despite the barriers, the research itself made things feel better.

When NACA became NASA, the segregated computing pools were disbanded, and work transitioned to digital computers. At the time, women weren’t allowed to put their names on research reports, even when they did most of the work. Katherine became the first woman to have her name on a report when her supervisor insisted she receive credit for her contributions.

🌍 Trajectories, Moon Landings & Apollo 13

Katherine calculated the trajectory for America’s first manned space flight in 1961.

🛰️ John Glenn refused to fly unless Katherine personally verified the calculations done by digital computers and human mathematicians.

🌕 She also calculated the trajectory for the Apollo 11 mission—the flight that landed humans on the moon.

🚀 When Apollo 13 suffered a catastrophic failure, Katherine helped NASA plot a safe course back to Earth, ensuring the astronauts’ survival.

Before retiring, she worked on the Space Shuttle program and contributed to plans for a mission to Mars.

🏆 A Legacy That Reaches the Stars

Katherine Johnson passed away at 101 years old in Hampton, VA, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and a loving family.

Thanks to the book and movie Hidden Figures, millions have learned about this absolute icon—but her impact was always there, written in the stars.