Katherine Johnson (1918 - 2020)
American mathematician;
her complex manual calculations of orbital mechanics
as a NASA employee were critical to the success
of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights;
with little recognition at the time, she was known as
a "human computer" for her tremendous mathematical capability;
after the book and movie Hidden Figures made her
accomplishments known, she received many long-overdue
honours, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015),
Congressional Gold Medal (2019) and posthumous
induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame (2021).
Better late than never I suppose. Such gifts. So often the talents of black women are exploited, uncredited.
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ReplyDeleteSHero.
I saw Hidden Figures and was constantly on the verge of tears.
XOXO
I’m so glad she got the acknowledgment she deserved when she was still living. That was done to women too many times.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing brain in that heroic woman! I'm glad she got credit at the end of her life rather than never... The space program owes her everything.
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