Katherine Johnson, a woman who managed to bring Man to the Moon
One small step for Man but one giant leap for women.
Katherine Johnson born as Creola Katherine Coleman in 1918 was an African-American mathematician and space engineer who actively participated in the Apollo 11 mission.
After becoming the third black student in West Virginia, she completed brilliant studies in mathematics and French with the highest distinction.
An assignment
that changes everything
She continued her career in teaching and then found a position at NACA, the former name of NASA. Upon her arrival, she was assigned with other women to the mathematical calculations of aircraft black boxes.
She was temporarily assigned to help the male research team on flights. It was at that moment that she was noticed and became indispensable to the team.
What she deserves
She then participated in the Apollo 11 mission, one of the first space conquests.
Thanks to her calculations, she enabled the mission's success by calculating the space rendezvous between the two modules as well as the rocket launch window.
Katherine Johnson verified all the computer calculations so that man could take the first step on the Moon.
