Challenging the Odds (Part II) - Katherine Johnson

Written By Arya Hariharan

Conquering Space and Beyond : The story of Katherine Johnson

Written By - Fazira Huwaidaa

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who was known for her contributions to NASA. She graduated from high school at 14 and went on to achieve a double major in math and French from West Virginia State College at the age of 18. A science luminary who exemplifies the tenacious spirit that can overcome even the most challenging barriers in STEM. Her groundbreaking contributions to astronomy have left an enduring imprint, notably in advocating for women's inclusion in this historically male-dominated area of study. 

In 1939, she became the first female Black student in West Virginia University's graduate math programme, breaking down gender and racial boundaries. As a widow and single mother, she made breakthroughs in the 1950s as the first woman and Black person to work on the NASA team that developed the equations required for orbital spaceflight. It was before the age of computers, during the space race with the Soviet Union, in segregated Hampton, Virginia. 

Although NACA (the former NASA name) was segregated, federal law prohibited federal government employers from discriminating on the basis of race. As a result, NACA had two computer divisions: one for white women and one for Black women. The employment criteria for black computers differed from those for white machines. College degrees and excellent GPAs were required for black computers. White computers, on the other hand, did not. As a result, engineers frequently preferred working with the more knowledgeable Black computers. Katherine drove to the NACA office and asked for an application. NACA gave her a position a year later. 

She began as a 'computer' (researcher who performs complex mathematical calculations by hand) who solved math problems before being relocated to a temporary role at the Flight Research Division. She joined the company in 1953 and initially worked in a group of black women who were all completing math calculations. As a result of her mathematical capabilities and hard work, this became a permanent assignment. Katherine was involved with trajectory calculations, launch windows and other vital analyses for various space flights, and making sure that missions such as the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon were safe and successful through accurate calculations.

Katherine was renowned as an inquiring and forceful black woman in the Flight Research Division, which was mainly ruled by white men, much to the astonishment of her superiors. She asked to be included in meetings that had previously excluded women, and she received more responsibility and recognition, such as being the first woman in the Flight Research Division to be credited as an author on a report. Despite enormous racial and gender barriers, her determination and commitment to a profession as a mathematician is commendable.  

Katherine sought strategies to blend in at the segregated workplace. She refused to follow the segregated bathroom restrictions and refused to eat in the divided cafeteria. During breaks, she played cards and talked about aviation periodicals with her white male colleagues. She was even successful in requesting access to high-level briefings.  The next year, she also assisted in making John Glenn, aboard the Mercury-Atlas Flight 7, the first American to orbit the Earth. John Glenn's successful voyage marked a watershed moment in the space race.  Katherine Johnson went on to have a long and fruitful career as a NASA mathematician, producing or co-authoring 26 research reports and playing an important but hidden role in America's Moon landings. 

Katherine's work was like a constellation in a way that is unique in the world of astronomy. Her precise trajectory research was critical in the early days of the United States space programme. Katherine Johnson not only pioneered the path for innumerable female scientists by bucking conventions and breaking through the glass ceiling in a field where women were uncommon, but she also highlighted the limitless possibilities that awaited future generations in the cosmos.

Katherine's story was one of unwavering perseverance. She defied preconceived views about what women could achieve in STEM fields by navigating the difficult calculations that prepared the path for the United States' journey into space exploration. Her calculations were nothing short of eloquent allowing astronauts to voyage to the stars with precision and safety. 

Katherine Johnson’s legacy goes beyond her astounding calculations. Her commitment to overcome barriers and disparities in gender within STEM fields serves as a light of hope for all aspiring astronomers, scientists or researchers. She personified the spirit of never-ending inquiry and the daring to shoot for the heavens, reminding us that even the most insurmountable obstacles are designed to be shattered. Her contributions to women's astronomy have paved a road to equality and inclusivity in STEM, ensuring that the remainder of the sky and its wonders remain a domain available to all with the desire and resolve to explore the realm of Science beyond the limit.

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Arya Hariharan
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Challenging the Odds (Part I)- Dr. Kamala Sohonie