-
Use Cases
-
Resources
-
Pricing
Katherine Johnson Timeline
(August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020)Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) was an American mathematician whose orbital mechanics calculations were essential to NASA's crewed spaceflight missions. Working as a 'human computer' and later as a NASA mathematician, she helped launch Alan Shepard into space, verified John Glenn's orbital mission computations, and contributed to the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Her life story was famously told in the book and film Hidden Figures, and she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. More Less
Early Life and Education
Katherine Johnson is born
Aug 26, 1918
Creola Katherine Coleman was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to Joylette Roberta (née Lowe) and Joshua McKinley Coleman.
Graduates summa cum laude from college
1937
In 1937, at age 18, Johnson graduated summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French.
Enrolls in graduate mathematics program
1939
In 1939, after marrying her first husband, James Goble, she left her teaching job and enrolled in a graduate mathematics program. She became one of three African-American students, and the only woman, selected to integrate the graduate school after the 1938 Supreme Court ruling Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada.
Death of first husband James Goble
1956
James Goble died of an inoperable brain tumor in 1956.
Marries James A. "Jim" Johnson
1959
In 1959 Katherine married James A. "Jim" Johnson, a United States Army officer and veteran of the Korean War; they were married for 60 years, until his death in 2019 at age 93.
Death of Katherine Johnson
Feb 24, 2020
Johnson died at a Newport News retirement home on February 24, 2020, at age 101.
Image source: Katherine Johnson
NASA Career
Learns of NACA computing job opening
1952
In 1952, a relative mentioned that the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was hiring for its West Area computing section.
Works as a computer for NACA
1953 - 1958
From 1953 to 1958 Johnson worked as a computer, performing calculations for topics like gust alleviation for aircraft.
Accepts job offer from NACA
Jun 1953
Johnson accepted a job offer from the agency in June 1953, and the family moved to Newport News, Virginia.
Works in Spacecraft Controls Branch
1958 - 1986
From 1958 until her retirement in 1986, Johnson worked as a computer for NACA's successor, the Spacecraft Controls Branch.
Key Facts
- Katherine Johnson showed exceptional mathematical talent early, graduating from West Virginia State College at age 18 with degrees in mathematics and French.
- In 1953, she began working at NACA (later NASA) as a 'computer,' performing complex calculations by hand in the segregated West Area Computing unit.
- Her calculations of launch windows and trajectories were critical for Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 mission (1961) and John Glenn's Friendship 7 orbital flight (1962), when Glenn requested that she personally verify the electronic computer's work.
- She contributed calculations to Project Apollo, including the trajectory for Apollo 11's 1969 Moon landing, and co-authored 26 scientific papers during her NASA career.
- Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, Congressional Gold Medal honors, and her story became internationally known through the book and film Hidden Figures; NASA named a computational research facility after her in 2016.
Source
This Katherine Johnson timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
Want a timeline like this one?
Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.