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Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematics pioneer, dies at 101

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 03:53 PM ET

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Katherine Johnson at NASA Langley Research Center in 1980. NASA

Key Takeaways:

Katherine Johnson, a pioneering NASA mathematician and one of the first Black women at the agency, died at 101, having computed critical flight paths for Apollo 11's moon landing and verified calculations for John Glenn's orbital mission.
She overcame significant educational and racial barriers, graduating college at 18 and later serving as a highly respected "human computer" who co-authored a foundational textbook on space mission mathematics.
Despite her achievements remaining obscure for decades, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, had a NASA facility named in her honor, and was celebrated in the film "Hidden Figures," solidifying her legacy as an inspiration in STEM.

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This story originally featured on Popular Science

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