I WONDER - Who Was Katherine Johnson?

Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician who worked for NASA during a time of racial segregation in America. Despite the challenges, she made significant contributions to space exploration, including calculating the trajectory for the first American in space and the 1969 moon landing. Her work was done before the widespread use of computers, showcasing her exceptional skills and leaving a lasting impact on science.

What contributions did Katherine Johnson make to NASA?

What challenges did Katherine Johnson face during her career?

In what ways did Katherine Johnson's work differ from modern computational methods?

How did Katherine Johnson's work impact space missions?

Describe the significance of Katherine Johnson's calculations for the moon landing.