The tragic life of a legendary female scientist at NASA

Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia (USA) in 1918, Johnson showed early talent for mathematics, graduating from high school earlier than his peers at the age of 14.

She then graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia State College with a degree in Mathematics and French in 1937, and taught mathematics in a public school in Virginia.

Mathematician Katherine Johnson works at NASA's research center.

In 1953, Johnson joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She was one of the few African-American women hired as a "computer," performing complex calculations by hand for the agency's research on aeronautics and space exploration.

According to information on the NASA website, at that time, there were no computers like today's versions, so mathematicians like Johnson were responsible for performing complex calculations manually. Johnson's job - to coordinate with other "computers" to verify and double-check each other's calculations, ensuring the accuracy of the data.

Johnson was entrusted with the task of calculating the orbits for NASA's first manned space flights. In particular, her calculations were decisive for the success of John Glenn's orbital flight on the Friendship 7 spacecraft on February 20, 1962. This was a great source of pride for Americans in the context of the Soviet Union dominating space exploration by manned spacecraft for a long time.

Glenn had personally asked Johnson to double-check the calculations, and he refused to fly until he received assurances from her.

This demonstrated the trust and respect the famous astronaut had for Johnson despite the doubts from male scientists.

Her quiet work went unnoticed until she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Johnson also made significant contributions to other areas of space research. She worked on the Apollo program that led to the first human landing on the Moon in 1969. Bill Barry, NASA historian, assessed Johnson's important contribution as follows: "If we want to go back to the Moon or Mars, we will have to use her mathematical formulas."

In addition to her contributions to the space program, Johnson is a dedicated advocate for education. She believes that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and achieving one’s dreams. She works tirelessly to inspire and support the next generation of STEM professionals.

However, throughout her career, Johnson faced significant discrimination and obstacles due to her gender and African-American ethnicity. She was the only woman and person of color in the room. Early in her career, she was often looked down upon by some of her male colleagues.

In 2016, a building at NASA headquarters in Virginia was named in her honor.

The female scientist also experienced personal tragedy with the passing of her first husband, James Goble. Goble was a World War II veteran and teacher who shared Johnson's passion for education.

The couple had three daughters together and were married for more than a decade when Goble suddenly passed away. Johnson had to raise the children on her own while working full-time at NASA. Despite these challenges, Johnson persevered and raised three children to become successful adults.

In her later years, Johnson continued to devote herself to science and mathematics. In 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"Katherine Johnson devoted her life to advancing human knowledge and expanding the boundaries of what we can achieve as human beings," said former US President Barack Obama.

In 2019, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which recognized her "pioneering work as a mathematician and physicist whose calculations were crucial to NASA's early human spaceflight program. Her legacy continues to inspire the advancement of women and minorities in science and technology."

(Source: Vietnamnet/NASA)

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