Hidden Hero

You may have heard of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. In 1969, these men became the first astronauts to walk on the moon. But you probably haven’t heard of the woman who made sure they got there: Katherine Johnson.

Johnson is a mathematician. She planned the trajectory, or curved path, that NASA’s Apollo 11 spacecraft took from Earth to the moon. Her work was critical to the mission’s success.

You may have heard of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. These men became the first astronauts to walk on the moon in 1969. But you probably haven’t heard of the woman who made sure they got there. Her name is Katherine Johnson.

Johnson is a mathematician. She planned the trajectory of NASA’s Apollo 11 spacecraft. It followed this curved path from Earth to the moon. Johnson’s work was critical to the mission’s success.

But Johnson’s achievements didn’t come easily. Johnson is Black. She was born in West Virginia in 1918. Segregation, or separating people by skin color, was legal then. African-Americans had to attend separate schools and use separate bathrooms from white people.

In the 1940s, Black women like Johnson began working for the U.S. space agency. Known as human computers, these women did the math that helped launch rockets and send astronauts to the moon. For years, their work wasn’t widely recognized. Their story was told in a movie called Hidden Figures, which came out in theaters in January 2017.

But Johnson’s achievements didn’t come easily. Johnson is Black. She was born in West Virginia in 1918. Segregation was legal then. People were separated based on their skin color. African-Americans had to attend separate schools from white people. They had to use separate bathrooms as well.

Black women like Johnson began working for the U.S. space agency in the 1940s. They were known as human computers. These women did difficult math. It helped launch rockets and send astronauts to the moon. Their work wasn’t widely recognized for years. Their story was told in a movie called Hidden Figures. It came out in theaters in January 2017.

Johnson loved math as a kid. She finished high school at 14, then went to college and took every math class she could. 

In 1953, Johnson heard that the government was hiring women to make calculations for aircraft research in Virginia. Modern computers weren’t available, so people had to do the work. Johnson leapt at the chance. 

As a Black woman, Johnson had to sit apart from the white women who did the same job. But her colleagues quickly noticed her talent. Johnson was invited to join a group of engineers exploring space flight. 

Johnson loved math as a kid. She finished high school at 14. Then she went to college and took every math class she could. 

Johnson heard that the government was hiring women in 1953. Their job would be to make calculations for aircraft research in Virginia. Modern computers weren’t available, so people had to do the work. Johnson leapt at the chance. 

As a Black woman, Johnson had to sit apart from the white women who did the same job. But her co-workers quickly noticed her talent. Johnson was invited to join a group of engineers exploring space flight. 

In 1961, Johnson calculated the trajectory for a new NASA rocket. She plotted the precise coordinates for where it should take off, where it should fly, and where it should land. That rocket carried astronaut Alan Shepard, who became the first American in space.

Soon after, NASA wanted to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit around Earth. An early electronic computer calculated a flight path. But Glenn didn’t trust it. He wanted Johnson to do the math.

Johnson spent a day and a half confirming every minute of the trajectory. The numbers worked: Glenn safely orbited the planet three times. He was the first American to do so.

Johnson stayed at NASA until 1986. She worked on moon missions, shuttle launches, and more. Last year, NASA named a building after her at the Langley Research Center in Virginia.

Johnson, now 98, is proud of her historic accomplishments. “I went to work every day for 33 years happy,” she says.

Johnson calculated the trajectory for a new NASA rocket in 1961. She plotted exactly where it should take off. She also figured out where it should fly and where it should land. That rocket carried astronaut Alan Shepard. He became the first American in space.

NASA wanted to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit around Earth soon after. An early electronic computer calculated a flight path. But Glenn didn’t trust it. He wanted Johnson to do the math.

Johnson spent a day and a half checking every minute of the trajectory. The numbers worked. Glenn safely orbited the planet three times. He was the first American to do so.

Johnson stayed at NASA until 1986. She worked on moon missions, shuttle launches, and more. NASA named a building after her last year. It’s located at the Langley Research Center in Virginia.

Johnson is now 98. She’s proud of her historic accomplishments. “I went to work every day for 33 years happy,” she says.