Johnson, Katherine

1918-2020 · Contribution: 1950s-1960s

Mathematician

Orbital mechanics calculations for NASA spaceflight

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Technology & Engineering

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Quick facts

Born
1918, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Active since
1953
Category
Technology & Engineering
Best known for
Orbital-mechanics calculations for NASA spaceflight

Impact on the world

Johnson's precise calculations helped launch and return America's first astronauts, and an astronaut trusted her math over the machines, a measure of her reputation.

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Sources

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    NASA

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