Katherine's Impact
Laura Wray Wray1
Mrs.Smoak
English 303
2/18/2017
Katherine’s Impact
Katherine Johnson was the first colored woman and women in general to work in NASA’s Mathematics department. It was a department of all white males. In the mathematics department she calculated trajectories, launch windows, and emergency back-up return paths. She was a girl that was just great with numbers, even at a young age. She loved to count everything. She graduated from college at the age of 18 and while there she took all the math classes that were available for her to take. Which later lead her to working in the mathematics department of NASA. She ended up getting the nickname the “Human Computer” working at NASA. Her expertise in math helped us succeed forward as a country back then and along with today. Katherine Johnson's impact on space travel developed our nation's position by putting the first man in space, advancing human rights, and enhanced unity.
While working at NASA she was in charge of doing trajectory to help put the first American man in space. Trajectory is the path followed by a projectile flying, or it’s an object moving under the action of given forces. She also did the numbers for returning paths and coordinates. Which gave the information as to where the landing areas will be when returning from space. On May 5th, 1961 astronaut Alan B. Shepard had made it into space successfully, which made him the first American man in space. Not only did she do the calculations for the first American man in space, she also had done the calculations for the first man to orbit space. John Glenn on February 20th, 1962 had been the first to actually orbit the earth. Thing was he didn’t want to take off if Katherine said the numbers weren’t right. (Hidden Figures 1) At the time computer calculations started to get used but he didn’t trust it. He wanted her to use her expertise with number to confirm the computers numbers. Once the numbers were confirmed he was set with takeoff. He had successfully made it into space and was in route for orbit. Also she was there to help do the calculations to help man get to the moon. Her calculations were essential to the Apollo moon landings along with the Space Shuttle Program. (Mink 1)
Johnson had done more than just help put man into space, orbit space, and help get to the moon. She also helped advance human rights. She went through a lot just to be working in the math department at NASA. It wasn’t normal or known for a colored person to be working in that department. Let alone it be a colored woman. With her being the only women and colored person in that department showed others that it is possible for other people just like her to be able to work there and places similar to there. Back then segregation was a huge thing going on in the time period she started working there. She started working at NASA in 1953. (Katherine Johnson at work). Segregation started in 1896, and didn’t end until. While working there she had to use a different coffee pot from everyone, go across campus to use the colored restroom since there wasn’t one in her building. Imagine having to run at least a mile or more just to use the restroom. Soon that was changed for her and others as she was now allowed to use the same coffee pot along and restrooms as everyone else.
Her working at NASA had also enhanced unity. Going back to her having to use her own coffee pot and going across campus just to use the restroom. Her being treated differently and still got the job done spoke volumes. She didn’t let her problems and all this issues she had affect what she was doing and what she had to do to be able and help get man into space. Her working at NASA and in the department she was in, was and still is inspiring to others. Her help, her knowledge, and her strength and attitude lead her to becoming someone people look up to. She also went on to being a supporter for NASA’s gender equality. Which was for the people then and on into the future. That had led to advancement for the next generation at NASA. (Thompson 1) In the book “Hidden Figures” by Margot lee Shetterly she had stated that “She [Katherine Johnson] applied equality to herself without insecurity and to others with full expectation of reciprocity... a reflection of the America we want to be.” (Mekeshia 1) Also actress Taraji P. Henson, who played as Johnson in the movie “Hidden Figures” had stated that “This story [Katherine Johnson and two friends who worked at NASA in another department] is about what happens when we put our differences aside and we come together as a human race,” she said. “We win. Love wins. Every time.” (Movies 1) Which is what exactly Johnson and her department did. She showed them that she’s good with numbers, is the asset that they need and she knows what’s she’s doing. She also showed them that she because her skin tone and gender is different from there’s she can do what they can and more. So if we as American people come together, put our differences aside just like they did we as a country can accomplish many things.