In June 1953, Katherine Johnson, a research mathematician, started a new job at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory. She was hired by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, as a 'human computer.' At the time, racial segregation laws required all African-American female mathematicians to work in a separate group, the West Area Computing unit. Using mechanical calculators, they performed the complex equations engineers needed. Johnson, who had been one of the first students to desegregate West Virginia University’s graduate school years earlier, did not stay in the computing pool for long. Her talent was so evident that within two weeks, her supervisor Dorothy Vaughan reassigned her to the Flight Research Division.
Katherine Johnson and the Apollo 11 Trajectory
The career of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who calculated flight paths for Alan Shepard, checked John Glenn's orbit and worked on Apollo trajectories and backup navigation.
Chapter 1
The Human Computer
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was a 'human computer' at NACA?
A 'human computer' was a job title for mathematicians, mostly women, who performed complex calculations by hand before electronic computers were widely used. At the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Katherine Johnson worked in a segregated unit of African-American women who served this critical function.
Why did John Glenn insist Katherine Johnson check the orbital calculations?
Astronaut John Glenn was skeptical of the new IBM 7090 electronic computer tasked with calculating his orbital flight path. He had immense trust in Johnson's proven mathematical abilities and famously said he would only fly if she personally verified the computer's numbers by hand.
What was Katherine Johnson's primary role in the Apollo 11 mission?
For Apollo 11, Katherine Johnson calculated the critical trajectories needed to synchronize the lunar lander with the orbiting command module. Her math ensured the astronauts could rendezvous safely in lunar orbit after walking on the Moon, a vital step for their return journey to Earth.
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