If on July 20, 1969 the man was able to set foot on the moon, he must first of all be an extraordinary woman: Katherine Johnson. Physics and mathematics of the Nasa, Her talent remained in the shadows for a long time, but it was she who precision the trajectory of the Apollo 11 mission precisely, making it possible to make one of the greatest goals in the history of humanity.
An exceptional mind in a difficult era for women
Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson was an African American mathematics, computer and physics that left an indelible imprint in the aerospace sciences. His contribution was fundamental for the success of numerous spatial missions of NASA, thanks to his manual calculations of the trajectories and orbits.
Born in a small town in West Virginia, Katherine showed out of the ordinary mathematical skills since childhood. Daughter of a lumberjack and a teacher, she managed to stand out in a historical period in which the opportunities for women, and even more for African American women, were extremely limited.
An essential contribution to space science
At just 14 he graduated and, shortly after, he obtained his degree. In the 1950s he began his career at the Naca (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), which later became NASA. Despite his extraordinary talent, until 1958 he was forced, like his African American colleagues, to work in a separate section due to the segregationist laws of the time.
Katherine Johnson did not let himself be stopped by sexism or racism, demonstrating his value with his exceptional ability in mathematical calculations. In 1962 it was the first woman who signed an astronomical mathematics text and participated in NASA’s most important missions, including the landing on the moon of the Apollo 11. After a brilliant career, he retired in 1986.
The recognition of a legacy
His story inspired the film The right to count (Hidden Figures), who contributed to making his incredible contribution known to the general public. Mattel also paid tribute to her, creating a Barbie in her image to inspire future generations.
In 2015, the then president of the United States Barack Obama gave her the Medal of Freedom, the highest American civil honor. Katherine Johnson passed away in 2020 at the age of 101, leaving an invaluable legacy and becoming a symbol for all young women who dream of a career in the Stoms (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
