Back then, NASA was run mainly by white men. Johnson and the others were kept busy checking and double checking the math, making sure that NASA’s space missions were successful.īut the work of the women wasn’t appreciated for a long time. Johnson was one of a group of African-American women who worked for NASA as “human computers”. Johnson and the other “computers in skirts” were kept busy checking and double checking the math, making sure that NASA’s space missions were successful. In the 1950s and 60s, NASA became more and more active in space. Complicated math was done using mechanical calculators or a tool called a “slide rule”. There weren’t even any handheld calculators. Johnson began working at NASA, modern computers didn’t exist. (Source: Based on: Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, via Wikimedia Commons.) Complicated math was done using mechanical calculators (above left) or a tool called a “slide rule”. Sending things into space safely takes serious math. Space travel requires difficult calculations in these areas and many others. Everything also has gravity, which pulls on everything else. Everything in space, including Earth, is constantly moving. In 1953, she found a job with a group that later became NASA. (Source: Ruhrfisch, via Wikimedia Commons.)Īfter college, Ms. NASA’s IV&V Facility, above, has been renamed. Johnson’s work is remembered, NASA has named an important building for her. For years Katherine Johnson worked at NASA, doing math that saved lives. She was a strong student, finishing high school at age 14 and college at age 18. Johnson had to go to a high school 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from her home. Katherine Johnson’s parents knew she was smart, but there weren’t many chances for a young black girl to go to school back then. Now NASA has named two buildings for her. It took a long time for her work to get much attention.
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