As I am always looking up and photographing lunar events, the sun and the sky I thought I would share the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson. who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015 .
Katherine Johnson joined the team at Langley in 1953 as a physicist, space scientist and mathematician, who provided the calculations for Alan Shepherd’s historic first flight into space, John Glenn’s ground-breaking orbit of the earth and the trajectory for Apollo 11’s moon landing
In February 2021 a space supply ship carrying some four tons of cargo bound for the International Space Station launched from Virginia. The S.S. Katherine Johnson, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule, was named in honour of this mathematician whose contributions were featured in the Oscar-nominated film 'Hidden Figures'.
"Five Women Who Made the Moon Landing Possible - That “giant leap for mankind” happened thanks to plenty of women."
The five women were:
- "Katherine Johnson—joined the team at Langley in 1953. A physicist, space scientist and mathematician, Johnson provided the calculations for Alan Shepherd’s historic first flight into space, John Glenn’s ground-breaking orbit of the earth and the trajectory for Apollo 11’s moon landing." (History.com)
- The S.S. Katherine Johnson, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule, was due to arrive at the International Space Station Monday, on Febrary 22nd bearing some 8,000 pounds of science and research supplies and vehicle hardware. (NPR 20/2/21)
- "Five Women Who Made the Moon Landing Possible That “giant leap for mankind” happened thanks to plenty of women." New York Times
- Movie Hidden Figures Three female African-American mathematicians play a pivotal role in astronaut John Glenn's launch into orbit. Meanwhile, they also have to deal with racial and gender discrimination at work. Wikapedia
Snow Moon 27th February 2021. Photo credit Pat Adams (North Devon Focus)
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