Computing Pioneers POV: Katherine Johnson

As a NASA mathematician, Johnson calculated the flight trajectories that helped send American astronauts into space and safely return them to Earth. Her calculations were critical to Alan Shepard's first American crewed spaceflight, John Glenn's historic orbit around Earth, and the Apollo missions to the Moon. Johnson's work helped demonstrate the essential role of mathematics and computing in space exploration. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers.