Remembering Katherine Johnson. A space scientist's life in pictures

A critical scientist for the space program, passed away today at 101

Spread the knowledge

Flipboard
Katherine Johnson At Her Desk at NASA Langley Research Center.

NASA

Katherine Johnson passed away today at the age of 101. She was one of the critical mathematicians that correctly plotted the course to launch astronauts into orbit and the Apollo missions to the Moon.

As a way of remembrance, a short life-in-pictures for Katherine Johnson:

Katherine Johnson working at NASA Langley, 1962.

Katherine Johnson working at NASA Langley, 1962.

NASA

Launch of the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) rocket for the Freedom 7 mission, the US's first crewed spaceflight, for which Katherine Johnson did the analysis.

Launch of  the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) rocket for the Freedom 7 mission, the US's first crewed spaceflight, 1961. Johnson did the trajectory analysis that launched Alan Shephard into space.

NASA

Seated from From Left: Katherine G Johnson, Lawrence W Brown, and J Norwood Evans, Employment Officer. Standing from Left: John J Cox, secretary; and Edward T Maher

A meeting of the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, 1965. Johnson seated at left.

NASA

Portrait of Katherine Johnson, 1971

Portrait of Johnson, 1971.

NASA

Johnson working at NASA Langley, 1980.

Johnson working at NASA Langley, 1980.

NASA

Left to right Vivian Merritt, Mary Jackson, Mr. James Jennings, and Katherine Johnson at a student symposium.

Left to right: Vivian Merritt, Mary Jackson, James Jennings, and Katherine Johnson, at a student symposium, 1984.

NASA

Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 2017.

At the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility ribbon cutting ceremony, 2017.

NASA

A portrait of Katherine Johnson, 1980.

A portrait of Katherine Johnson, 1980.

NASA

Rest in peace.