Sign in or create a free account to curate your search content.
As a mathematician at NASA, this White Sulphur Springs native's work contributed significantly to the success of some of the most notable space missions, including calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard's suborbital flight (1961), verifying John Glenn's orbital calculations (1962), and determining Apollo 11's trajectory to the Moon (1969).
Johnson's determination helped advance space exploration and inspired future generations, particularly young girls and minorities, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The adaptation of her story in the book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and its subsequent film have brought her accomplishments to a wider audience, ensuring that her legacy will continue to inspire.
