Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) was an American mathematician and physicist known for her groundbreaking work at NASA, where she played a crucial role in space missions, including John Glenn’s orbital flight and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
She overcame racial and gender barriers to become a pioneer in aerospace mathematics. Her contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015).
She was married twice, first to James Francis Goble, with whom she had three daughters Joylette, Constance, and Katherine Goble and later to James A. Johnson, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage.
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Who is Katherine Johnson?
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who worked for NASA. She loved numbers from a young age and was very talented in math. Katherine finished high school when she was only 14 years old and graduated from college at 18.
She joined NASA in the 1950s. At that time, computers were not common, so she did complex calculations by hand. Katherine’s work helped astronauts travel safely to space.
In 1962, John Glenn, an astronaut, asked her to check the computer’s calculations before his flight. He trusted her skills. Katherine played a big role in the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
This mission sent the first humans to the Moon. Her calculations helped make the journey safe. She also worked on later space missions, including the Space Shuttle program.
Katherine Johnson won many awards for her work. In 2016, the movie Hidden Figures shared her story with the world.
Katherine Johnson Childhood & Family
Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States. She was an African-American woman and an American citizen. Her full name at birth was Creola Katherine Coleman.
She came from a humble background and was the youngest of four children in her family. Katherine’s parents were Joylette Roberta Coleman (née Lowe) and Joshua McKinley Coleman. Her mother was a schoolteacher who valued education and encouraged her children to learn.
Katherine’s father worked several jobs to support the family. He was a lumberman, farmer, and handyman. He also worked as a janitor at the Greenbrier Hotel, a luxury resort in West Virginia. Despite financial struggles, her parents made sure their children received a good education.
Katherine grew up in a loving and hardworking family. She had four older siblings who were also encouraged to study and succeed. Since she was the youngest, she received extra attention from her family.
From an early age, she showed a deep curiosity for numbers and problem-solving. Her sharp mind set her apart, and she often impressed adults with her mathematical skills.
Her religious beliefs played an important role in her life. She was raised in a Christian household and remained a devoted Christian throughout her life. Her strong moral values and disciplined nature helped shape her character, later guiding her through challenges in her career and personal life.
Katherine Johnson Education
Katherine Johnson was a gifted student from an early age. Because of her exceptional mathematical abilities, she started high school when she was just ten years old.
She attended high school in Institute, West Virginia, where classes were held on the campus of West Virginia State College (WVSC), a historically Black college.
Greenbrier County, where she was born, did not provide public high school education for African-American students, so her parents arranged for her and her siblings to study in Institute.
During the school year, the family lived there, and in the summer, they returned to White Sulphur Springs. At the age of 14, she graduated from high school and immediately enrolled at West Virginia State College.
She pursued mathematics and French. She took every mathematics course available at the college. One of her professor was Angie Turner King, a chemist and mathematician who had also guided Katherine during high school.
Another was W. W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African-American to earn a doctorate in mathematics. He saw her potential and even created new mathematics courses specifically for her.
In 1937, at the age of 18, Katherine graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French. She was one of the few African-American women at the time to earn a degree in mathematics.
Her education at WVSC prepared her for a future where she would break barriers in science and space exploration. Her love for learning and problem-solving continued to shape her journey and led her to make history at NASA.
Katherine Johnson Age
Katherine Johnson was 101 years old as of 2020 because she came into the world on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States.
She passed away on February 24, 2020. Her death marked the end of an era, but her legacy continues to inspire scientists, mathematicians, and future generations.
Professional Journey
Katherine Johnson made groundbreaking contributions to the field of mathematics and aerospace engineering. Her work at NASA played a crucial role in the success of space missions. She had earned her recognition as one of the most influential mathematicians in history.
Below is a detailed look at her professional journey.
Early Career and Entry into NACA
After graduating with degrees in mathematics and French, Johnson initially worked as a teacher. In 1952, she learned about job openings at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).
She joined Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in 1953 as a research mathematician. At first, she worked in a segregated group of African-American women known as computers, who performed complex mathematical calculations for engineers.
Her expertise in analytic geometry quickly set her apart, and she was reassigned to the Flight Research Division as she breaking barriers for women in science and engineering.
Breaking Barriers at NASA
In 1958, NACA transitioned into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and segregation was officially eliminated within the organization. Johnson continued working in the Spacecraft Controls Branch.
She faced gender discrimination, as women were not allowed to put their names on reports. However, her persistence led to a breakthrough when her colleague, Ted Skopinski, insisted she be credited for her contributions. She became the first woman in her division to co-author a research report.
Key Contributions to Space Missions
Johnson’s calculations were vital to the success of multiple space missions. In 1961, she determined the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission, which made him the first American in space. She also calculated launch windows and backup navigation charts for astronauts.
Her most famous contribution came in 1962 when John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, requested that Johnson personally verify the computer-generated flight trajectory before his launch.
He refused to fly until she confirmed the accuracy of the calculations, highlighting her critical role in space exploration.
Apollo Missions and Space Shuttle Program
Johnson continued making significant contributions to NASA’s most important projects. She helped plan the trajectory for the Apollo 11 mission, which successfully landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969.
During the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, her work on emergency backup procedures helped guide the crew safely back to Earth after a critical failure. Later, she contributed to the Space Shuttle program, Earth Resources Satellite, and early mission planning for Mars exploration.
Later Years and Legacy
Katherine Johnson retired from NASA in 1986 after more than three decades of service. She dedicated her later years to promoting STEM education, inspiring young students especially women and minorities to pursue careers in science and mathematics.
Her contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations in the field of aerospace and beyond.
Katherine Johnson Quotes
Some of Katherine Johnson inspiring quotes are listed below:
- It’s the execution that matters, never the idea.
- Everything is physics and maths.
- In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong.
- Like what you do, and then you will do your best.
- I’m always interested in learning something new.
- Follow new leads and don’t give up. Keep trying.
- If you lose your curiosity then you stop learning.
Katherine Johnson Books
Some of Katherine Johnson books are mentioned below:
- Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson
- My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir
Katherine Johnson Accomplishments
Some of Katherine Johnson major accomplishments are listed below:
- First woman in her NASA division to receive credit as an author on a research report (1959)
- Calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) mission, the first American in space
- Verified calculations for John Glenn’s orbital flight (Friendship 7) at his request before launch
- Provided calculations for the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission
- Worked on the Apollo 13 mission
- Retired from NASA after nearly 33 years of service (1986)
- NASA dedicated the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility at Langley Research Center in her honor
Some of Katherine Johnson Awards and Recognitions are mentioned below:
- NASA Lunar Orbiter Award (1967)
- West Virginia State College Outstanding Alumnus of the Year (1999)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Barack Obama (2015)
- NASA Group Achievement Award for work on Apollo missions (2016)
- NASA’s Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility in West Virginia named in her honor
- Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the U.S.
- Silver Snoopy Award, NASA’s highest honor for safety and mission success
- USPS Commemorative Stamp issued in her honor
Her groundbreaking work in mathematics and aerospace engineering remains a significant part of NASA’s legacy.
What Challenges Did Katherine Johnson Face?
Katherine Johnson faced many struggles as a Black woman in a male-dominated field. She lived in a time when racial segregation was common. She had to fight for equal opportunities in education and her career.
Racial and Gender Discrimination in Education and Workplace
Growing up in the segregated South, Katherine Johnson faced Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation in schools and limited educational opportunities for African Americans.
Despite her exceptional mathematical skills, she had to overcome significant barriers to pursue higher education in STEM.
When she joined NACA in 1953, she was assigned to the segregated West Area Computing Unit, where African American women worked separately from white employees.
Women were often excluded from important meetings, and their contributions were undervalued, but Johnson refused to accept these limitations and fought for inclusion.
Struggles for Recognition and Credit at NASA
At NASA, women working as computers were rarely credited for their work, and Johnson was initially denied authorship on research reports, a privilege given only to male engineers.
She broke this barrier in 1960 when she became the first woman in her division to be credited as an author, thanks to her colleague Ted Skopinski, who acknowledged her contributions.
Despite calculating critical flight trajectories for Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and Apollo 11, her achievements remained largely unrecognized outside NASA until decades later.
Balancing Career, Family, and Personal Hardships
As a wife and mother of three daughters, Johnson had to balance her demanding career with family responsibilities. In the mid-1950s, her husband James Francis Goble was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
So, she became his primary caregiver while continuing to work full-time. She managed her career while raising their children and caring for her husband until his passing in 1956. In 1959, she remarried James A. Johnson, a U.S. Army officer, who supported her professional ambitions.
Paving the Way for Women and Minorities in STEM
Despite facing institutional and societal obstacles, Johnson paved the way for women and minorities in space exploration and mathematics. Her perseverance and success proved that race and gender should never be barriers to achievement.
Even after retirement, she mentored students and advocated for STEM education, particularly for young women and minorities. Her story continues to inspire future generations in science and engineering.
Katherine Johnson Husband and Children
Katherine Johnson was married to her first husband, James Francis Goble, in 1939. They had three daughters together: Joylette Goble, Constance Goble, and Katherine Goble.
During the early years of their marriage, Katherine pursued her education and career while balancing her role as a wife and mother.
The family relocated to Newport News, Virginia, in 1953, when Katherine took a position at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA.
Despite the challenges of segregation and gender discrimination at the time, Katherine remained committed to both her work and family.
James Goble’s Illness and Passing
In the mid-1950s, James Francis Goble was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. As his health declined, Katherine took on the immense responsibility of caring for him while working full-time and raising their three daughters. Sadly, James Goble passed away on December 20, 1956.
Marriage to James A. “Jim” Johnson
Three years after her first husband’s passing, Katherine Johnson married James A. “Jim” Johnson in 1959. Jim was a United States Army officer and a veteran of the Korean War, known for his discipline, kindness, and unwavering support for Katherine’s career.
Their marriage was built on mutual respect and admiration, with Jim playing an instrumental role in encouraging Katherine’s continued success at NASA.
The couple shared a loving relationship for 60 years, during which they witnessed historic moments in space exploration, including the Moon landing in 1969.
Katherine was a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, with six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She encouraged her descendants to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),
Jim Johnson passed away on March 13, 2019, at the age of 93, just a year before Katherine’s passing in 2020. Their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Katherine Johnson Height and Weight
Katherine Johnson stood at 5 feet 3 inches which is equal to 160 centimeters or 1.6 meters and had a slender yet graceful build. She maintained a professional appearance throughout her career, often seen in neatly styled hair and modest yet elegant presence.
Her warm smile and kind behaviour complemented her sharp mathematical mind. Even in her later years, she carried herself with dignity and confidence as she becames a symbol of perseverance and excellence for future generations.
How Did Katherine Johnson Died?
Katherine Johnson passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101. She died of natural causes in Newport News, Virginia. Her passing was widely mourned, and NASA, along with various institutions and public figures, honored her contributions to space exploration and mathematics.
Final Line
Finally, Katherine Johnson made a lasting impact as a mathematician and space pioneer. She broke barriers for women and African Americans in science. Her work at NASA helped important space missions succeed. She inspired many young people to study math and science. Her life showed the power of hard work and determination.
Thank you for taking the time to read about this inspiring story. We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share your feedback in the comments below!
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