Katherine Johnson

Early Life

Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. From a very young age, she loved numbers and solving puzzles. Math felt like a fun game to her, and she was incredibly good at it.

Katherine was so smart that she skipped several grades in school. By the time she was 18 years old, she had already finished college! She studied math and French, and her teachers knew she was someone very special.

Love for Learning

Katherine never stopped learning. She became one of the first Black women to attend graduate school at West Virginia University. She believed that learning was a lifelong adventure and that curiosity could open many doors.

Even when school was hard or unfair, Katherine stayed focused. She believed that doing her best work was the most important thing she could do.

Working at NASA

Katherine started working at a place that later became NASA. At first, she was called a “computer,” which meant she did math by hand to solve big problems. There were no personal computers back then!

She helped calculate the paths for rockets and spaceships. Her work made sure astronauts could travel to space and return safely to Earth.

One famous astronaut, John Glenn, asked Katherine to check the computer’s math before his space flight. He trusted her calculations more than the machine’s!

Amazing Achievements

Katherine helped with many important space missions, including the first American trips to space and the journey to the Moon. Her careful math saved time, money, and lives.

She received many awards for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors in the United States.

Legacy and Inspiration

Katherine Johnson showed the world that hard work and kindness can go together. She inspired many kids, especially girls, to enjoy math and science.

Her story reminds us that believing in yourself and loving what you do can help you reach for the stars—literally!