Katherine Johnson was known as a ‘human computer.’ Her calculations were used in…
LectureNotes said Katherine Johnson was known as a ‘human computer.’ Her calculations were used in…
Answer: Katherine Johnson, a pioneering African-American mathematician, was indeed known as a “human computer” for her exceptional mathematical abilities. Her calculations were prominently used at NASA. Katherine Johnson played a crucial role in calculating the trajectory for the first American-manned spaceflight by Alan Shepard in 1961. Moreover, Johnson’s calculations were instrumental in the success of John Glenn’s historic orbital flight around the Earth in 1962. Her work was fundamental in numerous other space missions and projects at NASA, including the Apollo moon landing program. Katherine Johnson’s contributions were vital to the early success of the U.S. space program and paved the way for many more women and minorities in the field of mathematics and space exploration.