$ Katherine Johnson
1918–2020
Mathematician at NASA
Orbital mechanics expert whose analytical work enabled Project Mercury, Apollo, and Shuttle missions; renowned for precision and verification rigor.
orbital mechanicsNASAMercuryApolloShuttle
$ contributions
- Computed launch windows, trajectories, and re‑entry parameters for Project Mercury (including Friendship 7)
- Independently verified IBM computer results by hand for John Glenn’s orbital flight prior to launch
- Contributed lunar trajectory and return‑to‑Earth calculations supporting Apollo 11 and later missions
- Worked on Space Shuttle and Earth resources satellite (ERTS/Landsat) programs; authored/co‑authored 26 technical papers
- Advanced analytical methods for orbital rendezvous and error analysis under tight real‑time constraints
$ awards
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015)
- Congressional Gold Medal (2019)
- NASA Group Achievement and Special Achievement recognitions
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best.”