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Top 15 Fascinating Facts about Katherine Johnson

Originally published by Ruth on February 2023. Updated by Ruth on January 2024.

Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Katherine Johnson was born Creola Katherine Coleman on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to Joylette Roberta and Joshua McKinley Coleman. She was the youngest of four children. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a lumberman, farmer, and handyman.

Johnson’s work included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for Project Mercury spaceflights, including those for astronauts Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American in orbit, and rendezvous paths for the Apollo Lunar Module and command module on flights to the Moon. 

Here are the Top 15 Fascinating Facts about Katherine Johnson.

1. Johnson showed strong mathematical abilities from an early age

 Because Greenbrier County did not offer public schooling for African-American students past the eighth grade, the Colemans arranged for their children to attend high school in Institute, West Virginia. This school was on the campus of West Virginia State College. Johnson was enrolled when she was ten years old.

After graduating from high school at the age of 14, Johnson matriculated at WVSC, a historically black college. She took every course in mathematics offered by the College.

2. Johnson graduated with a degree in mathematics at the age of 18

Katherine Johnson, NASA employée, mathematician and physicist, in 1966 by Adam Cuerden –

After joining WVSC, Katherine took every course in mathematics offered by the College. Several professors mentored her, including the chemist and mathematician Angie Turner King, who had guided Coleman throughout high school, and W. W. Schieffelin Claytor, the third African-American to receive a doctorate in mathematics. 

Claytor added new mathematics courses just for Johnson. She graduated summa cum laude in 1937, with degrees in mathematics and French, at age 18.

3. Katherine worked at NASA for over three decades

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.

During her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform tasks. 

4. Kathrine was one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist

Katherine Johnson in 1985 at NASA Langley Research Center by NASA –

Johnson’s contributions as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Johnson’s work included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for Project Mercury spaceflights.

This led to her recognition by NASA for her historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist.

5. Johnson was known as a “human computer” for her tremendous mathematical capability 

Kathrine’s calculations were extremely accurate and she had the ability to work with space trajectories with such little technology and recognition at the time.

This was essential to the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, and she worked on plans for a mission to Mars. The planet Mars has been explored remotely by spacecraft. Probes sent from Earth, beginning in the late 20th century, have yielded a large increase in knowledge about the Martian system, focused primarily on understanding its geology and habitability potential.

6.  President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama presents former NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by NASA on The Commons –

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service during World War II.

7. Johnson worked as an aerospace technologist until her retirement

From 1958 until her retirement in 1986, Johnson worked as an aerospace technologist, moving during her career to the Spacecraft Controls Branch. She calculated the trajectory for May 5, 1961, space flight of Alan Shepard, the first American in space. She also calculated the launch window for his 1961 Mercury mission.

Kathrine plotted backup navigation charts for astronauts in case of electronic failures. When NASA used electronic computers for the first time to calculate John Glenn’s orbit around Earth, officials called on Johnson to verify the computer’s numbers; Glenn had asked for her specifically and had refused to fly unless Johnson verified the calculations.

8. Kathrine calculated the trajectory for the first landing of humans on the Moon

Katherine Johnson in 1983 by NASA –

Johnson helped to calculate the trajectory for the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. Apollo 11 was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. During the Moon landing, Johnson was at a meeting in the Pocono Mountains. She and a few others crowded around a small television screen watching the first steps of the Moon.

In 1970, Johnson worked on the Apollo 13 Moon mission. When the mission was aborted, her work on backup procedures and charts helped set a safe path for the crew’s return to Earth, creating a one-star observation system that would allow astronauts to determine their location with accuracy. 

9. Johnson was on the frontline of encouraging students to pursue STEM courses

STEM  is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools. It has implications for workforce development, national security concerns and immigration policy.

Johnson spent her later years encouraging students to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

10. Two NASA facilities have been named in honor of Kathrine

Katherine Johnson in front of the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility by NASA –

On May 5, 2016, a new 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) building was named the “Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility” and formally dedicated at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The facility officially opened its doors on September 22, 2017. Johnson attended this event, which also marked the 55th anniversary of astronaut Alan Shepard’s historic rocket launch and splashdown, a success Johnson helped achieve.

NASA also renamed the Independent Verification and Validation Facility, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility on February 22, 2019.

11. Johnson began her career as a teacher but later transitioned to work for NASA

Katherine Johnson’s journey from a teacher to a pivotal figure at NASA reflects her exceptional talents and determination to overcome societal barriers. Beginning her career as an educator, Johnson’s proficiency in mathematics led her to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the precursor to NASA. 

Despite the racial and gender prejudices of the time, Johnson’s mathematical prowess earned her a place as a human computer at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Her transition from the classroom to the cutting-edge world of aeronautics marked the beginning of a remarkable chapter in her career, where her calculations played a crucial role in advancing space exploration.

12. The book Hidden Figures and the subsequent film adaptation brought Katherine Johnson’s story to life

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The book Hidden Figures and its film adaptation provided long-overdue recognition to Katherine Johnson and her fellow African American female mathematicians at NASA. The narrative unearthed their significant contributions to the space program, shedding light on the challenges they faced due to racism and gender bias. 

Katherine Johnson’s integral role in critical missions, including Project Mercury and Apollo 11, became widely known, elevating her to the status of a trailblazing figure in the history of space exploration. Hidden Figures not only shared Johnson’s accomplishments but also highlighted the broader struggles for equality in the STEM fields.

13.  In 2017, West Virginia University bestowed upon Katherine Johnson an honorary Doctor of Science degree

In 2017, West Virginia University acknowledged Katherine Johnson’s extraordinary achievements by awarding her an honorary Doctor of Science degree. This prestigious recognition celebrated her groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, space exploration, and the dismantling of racial and gender barriers. 

The honour symbolized not only Johnson’s triumph but also represented a step toward rectifying the historical oversight of her pioneering work.

14. Johnson retired from NASA in 1986 after a remarkable career

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Katherine Johnson retired from NASA in 1986 after a distinguished career that spanned more than three decades. Her retirement marked the conclusion of an era during which she played an instrumental role in shaping the trajectory of American space exploration.

Johnson’s legacy, however, extended far beyond her official retirement, as her story continued to inspire future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and women pursuing careers in STEM fields.

15. Johnson’s contributions to STEM education and her advocacy for women in science have left a lasting impact

Katherine Johnson’s impact on STEM education and her advocacy for women in science resonates as enduring aspects of her legacy. Her remarkable career and accomplishments serve as a beacon for aspiring mathematicians and scientists, especially women and minorities facing barriers in STEM fields. 

Johnson actively encouraged and promoted educational initiatives, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the pursuit of scientific excellence. Her tireless efforts to break down barriers and promote opportunities for underrepresented groups have left an indelible mark on the landscape of STEM education and continue to inspire future generations striving for equality in the sciences.