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Katherine Johnson
The mathematics that took man to the Moon
Space scientist, physicist, and mathematician Katherine Johnson left an extremely important legacy for women in science, as well as marking a milestone in technological advancement.
In 1953, Johnson began working at NASA at age 35 as a "human computer," a term given to women who performed calculations by hand because computers did not yet exist. She worked in a segregated wing called "West Area Computers," in the "colored computer" room. For Johnson and her colleagues, one of the biggest challenges was enduring racial discrimination, where even the restrooms were segregated for Black people.
July 20th marks one of the greatest events in space science: the arrival of the first man on the Moon in 1969. Although Neil Armstrong's name is the most famous in this story, the fact is that the achievement involved the work of a large team. And one of the great contributions came from Katherine Johnson, a mathematician responsible for nothing less than the calculations that ensured the success of the trip.
“You tell me when and where you want [the spacecraft] to land, and I’ll tell you where, when, and how to launch it.” Katherine’s famous phrase illustrates the relevance of her work and also the trust that many colleagues placed in her. Before Apollo 11, the scientist had already contributed to the flights of astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr. and John Glenn in the early 1960s. Glenn even declared about the NASA computer calculations that Katherine verified: “If she says they’re good, then I’m ready to go.”
Katherine Johnson's pioneering spirit earned her numerous honors. In 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Two years later, NASA named one of its buildings after her.
The agency itself even stated that the great space achievements that marked its history would not have been possible "without Katherine Johnson and her love of mathematics." Curious, confident, and dedicated, the scientist conquered the world – and space – with her work.
Annie Easley
Annie Easley was born on April 23, 1933, in Birmingham, Alabama. At that time, educational and employment opportunities were scarce for African Americans, and schools for Black students, separate from those for white students, were of inferior quality. Despite this, her mother always encouraged her to pursue a quality education and told her that if she worked hard, she could be anything she wanted to be.
In 1950, she began studying at Xavier University in New Orleans, where she graduated with a degree in pharmacy. At just 22 years old, she was hired by NASA, then called NACA, securing one of only four African Americans among a total of 2,500 employees. She began her career as a mathematician and computer engineer at NACA's flight propulsion laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. She continued her education while working and, in 1977, earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Cleveland State University. Later, she took specialized courses offered by NASA, but was denied any of the financial support that other employees received.
When humans were replaced by machines, Easley evolved along with the technology. She became a computer programmer and developed and implemented code used in energy conversion systems research, analyzing alternative energy technology: she structured solar and wind energy projects and identified energy conversion and alternative systems to solve energy problems. She also contributed to battery technology used in early hybrid vehicles, as well as the Centaur rocket. Her contributions to the Centaur project served as the technological basis for the launch of future satellites and spacecraft, including the 1997 Cassini launch to Saturn.
Despite her contributions to space science, Easley was cut out of virtually every photo of the projects she participated in because she was Black. Later in her NASA career, she took on the role of equal employment opportunity advisor. In this role, she helped supervisors address issues of discrimination, such as gender, race, and age. During the 1970s, she encouraged women and minorities to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
