4/28/2023 0 Comments Katherine johnson nasa computerShe said, "Even with all the restrictions and biases against recognizing her potential to contribute to the mission, that she became invaluable.One has to wonder how much more she might have been able to achieve if the path to becoming an aerospace engineer had really been open to her. Margaret Weitekamp, curator and chair of the Space History Department at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, spoke with Smithsonian magazine about Johnson's legacy. Image Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, gift of Annie Leibovitz, © Annie Leibovitz In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Johnson was responsible for key calculations that helped ensure the success of NASA programs, including the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects.įor her computations on America's first human spaceflight project, Freedom 7, Johnson became the first African American woman computer to have her name on a technical paper issued by NASA's Langley Research Center. Computers did mathematical calculations for aerodynamicists so that they could focus on science. Johnson joined West Computing, a segregated unit of African American women "computers" (then a job title). In 1953, she started work at NASA's precursor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Johnson was one of the first African American graduate students at West Virginia University. She and her colleagues inspired Margot Lee Shetterly's book, Hidden Figures, and the movie of the same name. In 1961, Johnson calculated the flight path for America's first astronaut launched into space. At the age of 19 I am not at the same place she was when she was 19, but like I’ve said she was always a step ahead of everyone else.On February 24, 2020, Katherine Johnson passed away at age 101. The difference with Katherine Johnson is of course her ethnic background, and great achievements. ![]() Katherine Johnson and I are similar in a way that we fight for what we believe in, when someone tells us we can’t do something we work ten times harder to prove them wrong. The movie was an emotional slap in the face, to see all that this woman has been through is truly amazing. Katherine Johnson was not my first choice for this project,she was proposed to me by a classmate, but I am glad that I chose her, I went on to watch the movie Hidden Figures which is based on her story, and I developed a great appreciation for her. Barack Obama awarded her with the presidential medal of freedom in september 2015. She went on to win the Nasa lunar orbiter award and three Nasa special achievement awards,and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the State of New york. To me this women is more than inspirational. But she fought for her name to be put on her work, and went on to be the name on more than 25 other reports and papers before retiring. Seeing as her boss was not a fan of women,especially colored women. In the beginning she was not credited for the work she had done, she had to slap the name of her co worker Ted Skopinski on the papers instead of hers. Until “Hidden Figures” came out not many people knew who she was. She opened the doors for many opportunities for black women,breaking the barriers of race and gender. ![]() She was the first black women who worked as a human computer for Nasa. During this time she was faced with racism and segregation. Well, she was always steps ahead of everyone else, coming up with numbers and formulas no one thought of using, and coming up with the ones that sent the first American rocket to space successfully. ![]() You are probably thinking how is she any different from any of the other people who helped with Nasa calculations. The Apollo moon landing was a success and one of the biggest events in the history of space travel. She helped calculate the pinpoint, time, location, and departure that would send astronauts to the moon. Katherine continued to work for nasa for thirty years. ![]() At the time computers were not highly reliable but Glenn said “if she says they’re good, then I’m ready to go.” Katherine checked the final calculations as she was more trusted than a computer. Astronaut John glenn successfully orbited the earth 3 times with the help of Katherine Johnson. In 1962 the US and Russia were competing to send a rocket to space first. In the mid 50’s Nasa wanted to send people to space for the first time, but doing this involved a lot of numbers, so women “computers” were hired and paid very low wages. Later, she among two other men were selected to be the first coloured people to study at West Virginia University. Katherine finished college at the age of 18. She was extremely smart, entering high school at the age of 10. Katherine Johnson, previously known as katherine coleman before marriage, born August 26th 1918 celebrated her hundredth birthday in 2018.
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