IndexKatherine Johnson as a ChildAchievementsConclusionIn early 2017, a new blockbuster hit theaters nationwide. Hit films like “Star Trek Beyond,” “X-Men Apocalypse,” and “La La Land,” the film “Hidden Figures” follows the brilliant minds of three African-American women working at NASA. One of these women was Katherine Johnson. He was a vital asset to the country and an indispensable figure for America's success in the space race. Not only was she a prominent woman in the field of mathematics, but she was also one of the few successful African Americans in that arena at the time. Not only has she broken every barrier that was placed on her, but she has also inspired and paved the way for future minorities who aspire to be a part of STEM. Johnson's ability to shine like a star in a highly male-dominated field has earned her the title of greatest of all time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Being the youngest of four children, Katherine Johnson was born in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, on August 26, 1918. The intelligent child excelled in everything she did and was undoubtedly destined for greatness. Ever since Johnson was young, she was fascinated by mathematics. He tried to count everything: the steps on the stairs, the dishes in the sink, and the stars in the sky. He also followed his brother to elementary school before he could attend and listened to his lessons. Johnson started second grade when he was just four years old and finished eighth grade at the tender age of ten. Katherine Johnson as a child Her thirst for education only intensified as she grew up and her family fully supported her passions. Due to the climate of discrimination at the time, there were no public high schools for African Americans in his hometown. Each fall, Johnson's father drove 120 miles to the town of Institute, West Virginia, allowing her to continue her studies, returning to White Sulfur Springs only during the summer. The undying support of Johnson's family served as fuel for Johnson's mathematical career to take off. After graduating high school, she attended West Virginia University, a historically black college. She eagerly sought out every math course available to her and was tutored by professors including Angie Turner King and W. W. Schieffelin Claytor (both major influences in the African-American community). Being at the top of her class, she graduated at the impressive age of eighteen in both mathematics and French. She left her first teaching job when she married her first husband, James Francis Goble. Johnson later enrolled in a graduate program in mathematics, making her one of the first African Americans to attend graduate school. However, her time on the program was short-lived, as she decided to quit after giving birth to her three children: Constance, Joylette, and Katherine. However, her ambition further pushed her to etch her name in the history books. In 1956, an inoperable brain tumor prematurely deprived Johnson of her loving husband. A few years later she remarried to James A. Johnson, a U.S. Army officer. However, the pain did not stop her from reaching for the stars and fulfilling her destiny. It was in 1952 that Johnson first learned that NACA, the precursor to NASA, was looking for brilliant minds who could do mathematics and calculate routes for space travel. Little did he know that this was the start of something extraordinary. Achievements Many of Johnson's achievements in space exploration contribute to our knowledge of the universe today. HisDedication and career persistence have had the auspicious effect of aiding America's growing presence in the technological age. At the Maneuvering Loads Branch of NASA's Flight Research Division, Johnson analyzed flight test data and studied aircraft crashes due to wake turbulence. Her and her team's work was much needed when the Soviet satellite Sputnik was launched in 1957. She was part of the Space Task Group as she had worked with many engineers within it. Before his most famous achievement, Johnson had performed trajectory analysis for the May 1961 mission, Freedom 7, America's first human spaceflight. She was also later credited with a report on the equations that specify the landing position of a spacecraft. This made her the first woman credited with a research report in the Flight Research Division. John Glenn's Friendship 7 mission, which would become the turning point of the space race, shows the true impact of Johnson's calculations. Since the mission was really complicated, the Friendship 7 mission put computers to work. His job was to control the capsule's trajectory using orbital equations. However, computers were notorious for having blackouts and making errors. Therefore, the astronauts did not trust them. Before the flight, John Glenn himself specifically asked Johnson to calculate the numbers by hand to ensure that the computer did not make mistakes. It was only after confirming the computer's calculations that John Glenn was "ready to go." The fact that the astronauts trusted the calculations of Johnson – a mere human being – rather than those of the machines simply demonstrates the brilliance of his mind. Ultimately, the mission proved to be a great success for the United States. The trust between Johnson and the space shuttle team was rare and reflected not only the advancement of women in society, but also the fight for racial equality. During her time at NASA, Katherine Johnson was showered with awards and honors. He received the NASA Lunar Orbital Award and three NASA Special Achievement Awards. Johnson was also awarded the title of Mathematician of the Year by the National Technician Association in 1997. Awards are not the only thing that represents his impact on our society. His graduation speech in New York served as a powerful inspiration to budding mathematicians and aspiring scientists around the world. Johnson has also gained recognition in recent years. In 2015 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2016 a building was built at NASA to honor her. Additionally, Katherine Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Many biographies have been written about her, and the film, Hidden Figures, which includes her story and contributions to the study of space, was made in 2017. This film was a huge success and earned $236 million. the box office. The dedication Johnson put into his research and calculations brought about great experience in space travel and advancements in the U.S. space program. Her exploits inspire many to this day as a woman who pursued a career in a male-dominated field. When remembering her childhood, it's easy to see why Johnson was destined for success. She grew up in a loving home with a hard-working father, caring mother, and encouraging siblings. He idolized his father, Joshua Coleman, most; she saw him as the handsomest, tallest, and most intelligent man on Earth. Although he only graduated from ninth grade, he had a natural gift and interest in mathematics. They would tackle long math problems in his one and only difficult textbookfather would respond. He thought the problems were so long and difficult, yet his father was able to solve them quickly. He wanted to be just like his father. The word problems showed her how mathematics was connected to almost everything she saw. He wanted "to know what was happening and why...". She also wanted to be hardworking and determined like him. School was very important to her father and he did everything he could to ensure that all four of his children went to college. He went so far as to move 120 miles from home to college every year with only one payment of. Even though some thought he was crazy, he was able to send every child to college.segregation at work because everyone had a duty to perform. No one had time to discriminate against another race because they were trying to send a man into space and bring him back to Earth, yet she was still a woman in a male-dominated workplace. When she asked to attend the all-male meetings, they wouldn't let her, but she replied, "Well, is there a law?" They finally relented and she was able to hear arguments about what she was specifically finding calculations for, including John Glenn's orbit around the earth. When he was presented with computer calculations detailing his path, he asked: “What did the girl get? If she agrees with the computer, then I will trust the computer.” That's when they started using computers for their calculations, so they still relied on "human computers". He was also able to calculate a few more decimals than the computer. She always did her best to solve math problems because otherwise she would have to do them twice and she would never have to do it. It became clear that he was superior when it came to complex mathematical calculations as John Glenn insisted that he double check the performance of the digital computer. calculations before takeoff. Johnson was an excellent employee as she always did her job diligently and without asking questions. However, what makes Johnson truly the greatest of all time is not her raw intelligence and intellect, but her fight to receive the credit she truly deserves. Despite being fairly well known for their exceptional mathematical skills, her colleagues were less than keen to give her any actual credit for her work. In fact, no female NASA employee had ever included her name in a report until 1960. Even while working in this hostile work environment where she was almost constantly told she wasn't good enough, Johnson always understood her worth for the country and insisted on getting involved in issues that many believed simply did not concern her. While working for NASA, Johnson and engineer Ted Skopinski laid the mathematical foundation for nearly the entirety of America's first space flight in 1961 and the orbital mission in 1962, discovering the equations that determined how to launch, track, and maneuver spacecraft. Given that she is a woman of color and working in the 1960s, it would have been monumental to claim such a valued relationship. Skopinski was initially expected to finish the report and put his name on it; however, considering that she had done most of the work, she decided it was best if she finished it herself. As a result, Johnson was able to complete the report herself and proudly list her name on the front page, marking the first time a woman in her division had her name on a formal document. She continued to serve her country as a brilliant mathematician and published 25 more articles and reports during her career at NASA before retiring in 1986. Thanks to her incredible efforts, the.