Women’s History Month: Kathrine Johnson

A portrait of Katherine Johnson, an African American mathematician known for her work at NASA. She is wearing glasses and a professional suit, with neatly styled hair and a warm, confident expression. The background is simple, emphasizing her presence as a pioneering figure in STEM and space exploration.

Today is Pi Day (3.14), a celebration of the power of mathematics, and who better to highlight than Katherine Johnson—the brilliant mathematician who helped launch astronauts into space with nothing but brainpower, perseverance, and a love of numbers?

Born in 1918, Katherine broke racial and gender barriers as a Black woman in STEM. Her genius with complex calculations earned her a spot at NASA, where she was instrumental in John Glenn’s orbital flight, the Apollo moon landing, and even the Space Shuttle program. She was known for double-checking computer calculations by hand—because when the mission was life or death, Katherine was the one they trusted.

-She calculated trajectories that sent astronauts safely to space and back.

-She broke barriers at NASA, proving that Black women belonged in STEM.

-She earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S.

Katherine once said, "We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics."

On Pi Day, as we celebrate the beauty of numbers, let’s honor Katherine Johnson, the mathematical mind that helped humanity reach for the stars.

Read More About Her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson