Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician depicted in 'Hidden Figures,' dead at 101
Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician depicted in 'Hidden Figures,' dead at 101
Johnson "was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter.
Janelle Monae, Katherine Johnson, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer at the Oscars on Feb. 26, 2017.Patrick Wymore / ABC via Getty Images file
Feb. 24, 2020, 9:58 AM EST / Updated Feb. 24, 2020, 10:41 AM EST
By Elisha Fieldstadt
Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA mathematicians depicted in "Hidden Figures," died Monday, the administrator of NASA said. She was 101.
Johnson "was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter.
NASA space scientist and mathematician Katherine Johnson at Langley Research Center in Va., in 1966.NASA / Getty Images file
Johnson was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the Oscar nominated 2016 film "Hidden Figures" about trailblazing black women whose work at NASA was integral during the Space Race.
The film also stars Octavia Spencer as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan and Janelle Monáe as engineer Mary Jackson.
Johnson began working at NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ in 1953 at the Langley laboratory in Virginia. In her role there, she did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s 1961 mission Freedom 7, which was America’s first human spaceflight, according to NASA.
She was also the first woman in the Flight Research Division to receive credit as an author of a research report for her work with Ted Skopinski on detailing the equations describing an orbital spaceflight.
The Amazing Untold Story of NASA's Brilliant African-American Female Scientists
Dec. 9, 201602:02
She was best-known though for work that greatly contributed to the first American orbital spaceflight, piloted by John Glenn.
Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician depicted in 'Hidden Figures,' dead at 101
Johnson "was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter.
Janelle Monae, Katherine Johnson, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer at the Oscars on Feb. 26, 2017.Patrick Wymore / ABC via Getty Images file
Feb. 24, 2020, 9:58 AM EST / Updated Feb. 24, 2020, 10:41 AM EST
By Elisha Fieldstadt
Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA mathematicians depicted in "Hidden Figures," died Monday, the administrator of NASA said. She was 101.
Johnson "was an American hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter.
NASA space scientist and mathematician Katherine Johnson at Langley Research Center in Va., in 1966.NASA / Getty Images file
Johnson was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the Oscar nominated 2016 film "Hidden Figures" about trailblazing black women whose work at NASA was integral during the Space Race.
The film also stars Octavia Spencer as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan and Janelle Monáe as engineer Mary Jackson.
Johnson began working at NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ in 1953 at the Langley laboratory in Virginia. In her role there, she did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard’s 1961 mission Freedom 7, which was America’s first human spaceflight, according to NASA.
She was also the first woman in the Flight Research Division to receive credit as an author of a research report for her work with Ted Skopinski on detailing the equations describing an orbital spaceflight.
The Amazing Untold Story of NASA's Brilliant African-American Female Scientists
Dec. 9, 201602:02
She was best-known though for work that greatly contributed to the first American orbital spaceflight, piloted by John Glenn.
to this genius beautiful woman
