Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson was an incredible mathematician who calculated trajectories, flight paths, and orbital mechanics of the most historic space flights in US history.

In 1961, her work at NASA supported the Mercury flight, America's first human space flight. In 1962, her calculations helped the Friendship 7 become the first American space flight to successfully orbit the earth.

Famous astronaut John Glenn refused to take-off until all of the electronic calculations could be verified by Johnson, "If she says the numbers are good, I’m ready to go." And then in 1969, she calculated the trajectories for the Apollo 11 to land on the moon and safely return to Earth.

She did all of this despite segregation and sexism within mathematics and engineering. Her assuredness of her own capability and her proven track record won over the teams of white men she worked with. She said that she never felt inferior and, "they didn’t have time to be concerned about what color I was."