# Katherine Johnson

> African-American mathematician

**Wikidata**: [Q11740](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11740)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/katherine-johnson

## Summary
Katherine Johnson was an African-American mathematician and physicist whose work in orbital mechanics proved critical to the success of NASA's crewed spaceflights. Employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its predecessor for over three decades, she is best known for calculating trajectories for numerous space missions and breaking racial and gender barriers in science.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States.
- **Died:** February 24, 2020, in Newport News, Virginia, United States.
- **Nationality:** United States.
- **Education:** West Virginia State University (1933–1937, Mathematics and French); West Virginia University (1939–1940).
- **Known for:** Calculations in orbital mechanics and computational mathematics for space exploration.
- **Employer(s):** National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1953–1958); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (1958–1986).
- **Field(s):** Mathematics, Orbital Mechanics, Aerospace Engineering, Computational Mathematics, Physics.

## Contributions
Katherine Johnson’s career was defined by her technical contributions to aerospace engineering and orbital mechanics. Starting her career as a teacher, she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1953. Her work involved complex manual calculations in the fields of computational mathematics and physics, which were essential during the early years of the Space Race. She spent 33 years at NACA and NASA, eventually retiring in 1986.

Her specific field of work included the calculation of trajectories for space travel. While the raw data emphasizes her role as a "computer scientist" and "mathematician," her specific technical output focused on the precise mathematics required for spaceflight. Beyond her calculations, she was recognized for her role as a "military flight engineer" in certain capacities and received numerous accolades for her pioneering work in STEM fields.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Katherine Johnson's role at NASA?
A: Katherine Johnson was a research mathematician and computer scientist. She calculated trajectories and orbital mechanics for NASA missions, working there from 1958 until her retirement in 1986.

### Q: What awards did Katherine Johnson receive?
A: She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019, and the Hubbard Medal in 2020, among many other honors.

### Q: Where did Katherine Johnson go to college?
A: She graduated from West Virginia State University in 1937 with degrees in mathematics and French and later attended West Virginia University from 1939 to 1940.

## Why They Matter
Katherine Johnson is a pivotal figure in American history for her dual impact on scientific advancement and social progress. As an African-American woman working in a segregated government agency, she broke significant barriers while performing the essential mathematical calculations that enabled the United States to achieve key milestones in space exploration. Her work in orbital mechanics directly supported the success of NASA's missions. Her legacy was further cemented by late-career recognition, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, which highlighted the importance of diversity and accuracy in STEM fields.

## Notable For
- **Presidential Medal of Freedom:** Awarded in 2015 by President Barack Obama.
- **Congressional Gold Medal:** Awarded in 2019 for her contributions to science and society.
- **Orbital Mechanics Expert:** Conducted critical calculations for the US space program.
- **Centenarian:** Lived to be 101 years old (1918–2020).
- **National Women's Hall of Fame:** Inducted as part of the 2022 class.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Born Creola Katherine Coleman on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, she showed an early aptitude for mathematics. She attended West Virginia State University, where she studied mathematics and French, graduating in 1937. She later attended West Virginia University from 1939 to 1940. Her academic path was influenced by mentors such as William Claytor and Angie Turner King.

### Career at NACA and NASA
Johnson began her career as a teacher but joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1953. When NACA transitioned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958, she continued her employment there until 1986. Her official roles included mathematician, computer scientist, and physicist. She was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

### Recognition and Legacy
Johnson received widespread recognition later in life. Major awards include:
- **2015:** Presidential Medal of Freedom and NCWIT Pioneer in Tech Award.
- **2016:** Virginia Women in History, BBC 100 Women, and the Arthur B.C. Walker II Award.
- **2019:** Congressional Gold Medal.
- **2020:** Hubbard Medal.
- **2017:** Honorary degree from Spelman College.

She passed away on February 24, 2020, in Newport News, Virginia, and was buried at Hampton Memorial Gardens. Her life story has been preserved in various biographical sources and she is recognized as a "Hidden Figure" of the space race.

## References

1. Black Women Scientists in the United States
2. [Katherine Johnson Dies at 101; Mathematician Broke Barriers at NASA. The New York Times. 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/science/katherine-johnson-dead.html)
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography)
5. [Source](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/katherine-g-johnson-42)
6. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katherine-Johnson-mathematician#ref1261395)
7. Find a Grave
8. [Honoring NASA's Katherine Johnson, STEM Pioneer](https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/11/25/honoring-nasas-katherine-johnson-stem-pioneer)
9. [Source](https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2016)
10. [BBC 100 Women 2016: Who is on the list?](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-38012048)
11. [Source](https://astrosociety.org/who-we-are/awards/arthur-bc-walker-ii-award.html/title/inaugural-recipient-katherine-johnson)
12. [Source](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1396?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr1396%22%5D%7D)
13. [Source](https://www.ncwit.org/profile/katherine-johnson)
14. [Source](https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2020/09/22/meet-the-2020-national-geographic-award-recipients/)
15. [Source](https://www.womenofthehall.org/2022-inductees/)
16. [Source](https://www.spelman.edu/docs/honorary-degrees/honorary-degree-recipients---1977-present---as-of-november-2022---revised-(012023).pdf?sfvrsn=f4347e51_2)
17. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/science/katherine-johnson-dead.html)
18. BlackPast.org
19. Virtual International Authority File
20. [Source](http://akapioneers.aka1908.com/index.php/aka-media/54-video-interviews/180-johnson-katherine)
21. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
22. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
23. FemBio database
24. [Legendary NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson dies at 101. Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8038399/Legendary-NASA-mathematician-Katherine-Johnson-dies-101.html)
25. [Katherine Johnson, ‘hidden figure’ at NASA during 1960s space race, dies at 101. The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/katherine-johnson-hidden-figure-at-nasa-during-1960s-space-race-dies-at-101/2020/02/24/fd5058ba-5715-11ea-9000-f3cffee23036_story.html)
26. [Source](https://doi.org/10.1090%2Fnoti1809)
27. [The New York Times. 2020](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/science/katherine-johnson-dead.html)
28. BBC Things
29. Library of Congress Control Number