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Katherine Johnson: Math Whiz in Space

Katherine Johnson was a gifted mathematician who worked as a 'human computer' for NASA, calculating trajectories that enabled the first U.S. human space flights. Some of her most important work included ensuring Alan Shepard's successful space flight and return in 1961 and the calculations for John Glenn's orbit in 1962. Despite her crucial role, she and other Black women who worked at NASA faced racial prejudice and their contributions went largely unrecognized during their careers.

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Ariel Dulva
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534 views2 pages

Katherine Johnson: Math Whiz in Space

Katherine Johnson was a gifted mathematician who worked as a 'human computer' for NASA, calculating trajectories that enabled the first U.S. human space flights. Some of her most important work included ensuring Alan Shepard's successful space flight and return in 1961 and the calculations for John Glenn's orbit in 1962. Despite her crucial role, she and other Black women who worked at NASA faced racial prejudice and their contributions went largely unrecognized during their careers.

Uploaded by

Ariel Dulva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Biography of Katherine Johnson: Provides a detailed account of Katherine Johnson's early life, education, and contributions to NASA and space missions.
  • Comprehension Questions: Presents questions for assessing comprehension of the Katherine Johnson biography, including multiple-choice questions.

Name Grade 5 Reading Comprehension

Math Whiz Katherine Johnson


Katherine Johnson was born in West Virginia in 1918. From an early age
she was naturally gifted at math. She started high school at the age of
ten, and graduated from college when she was 18. Her first job was
teaching math to Black students. Though she enrolled in graduate school
in West Virginia to study math, she left before she earned her degree so
she could raise a family and go back to teaching.

When she was 34 years old in 1952, she learned that the Langley
laboratory at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (which
later became the National Air and Space Administration) was hiring Black
women with skills in math and computing. She was hired. Her job was to
be a "human computer," doing the math that makes space flight possible.

One of Johnson's greatest contributions to the U.S. Space Program was


the calculation of the trajectory of the first U.S. human space flight in 1961.
Her work was responsible for ensuring that astronaut Alan B. Shepard
made it into space and returned to Earth safely. The following year, she
work on the math that resulted in John Glenn's Earth orbit. In 1969 she
figured out the trajectories for Neil Armstrong’s trip to moon on Apollo 11.

These white astronauts became household names, but Katherine Johnson


and the dozens of other Black women who made the success of these
astronauts possible were basically unknown. Not only that, in spite of their
great work for the country, they still had to deal with the
racial prejudices of the time in both their personal and
professional lives. It was not until 2016 that the movie
Hidden Figures told their story to the country for the first
time, and these women received the recognition they
deserved.

Johnson, who lived to be 101, died in 2020. NASA


dedicated the Katherine G. Johnson Computational
Research Facility at the Langley Research Center in her
honor.

© [Link]
Name Grade 5 Reading Comprehension

QUESTIONS: Math Whiz Katherine Johnson


Circle the correct answer.

1. Katherine Johnson was naturally gifted at:


A. math
B. space flight
C. public relations
D. teaching

2. At the age of 34, Katherine Johnson began working for:


A. the National Air and Space Administration
B. the National Air and Space Museum
C. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
D. Langley Air Force Base

3. One of Johnson's greatest contributions to the U.S. Space Program was:


A. going into space and returning to Earth safely
B. the calculation of the trajectory of the first U.S. human space flight in 1961
C. bringing John Glenn safely back to Earth
D. walking on the moon with Neil Armstrong

4. Did Katherine Johnson receive recognition for her work while she was doing
it? Explain your answer.

5. What movie told the story of Katherine Johnson and other women like her?
A. Hidden Lives
B. Hidden Figures
C. Apollo 11
D. Mission to Mars

© [Link]

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