In fact, most people now think of a "computer" as that thing with a monitor and a keyboard you sit in front of.
The first computers were people. And most of them were women. These women were highly-skilled mathematicians who could do calculations in their head in seconds that would daunt an average person.
Johnson stood out from this crowd. She helped put men in orbit and then on the moon. Nowadays, we use AI to do these calculations.
She did them unassisted, and so well that the astronauts asked for her by name. In fact, when electronic computers were added to mission control, a skeptical John Glenn asked her to double check the figures.
Over more than three decades at NASA she authored or coauthored 26 research reports – this woman was no mere clerk but a scientist in her own right. In fact, all indications were that she was a mathematical genius. She skipped several grades in school, but was held back by her gender and race.
Her first career? Schoolteacher. Until NACA, NASA's predecessor created the all-black West Area Computing section and she saw a chance to truly spread her wings (although I would bet her students did well).
She has a NASA facility named after her - the home of the Independent Verification and Validation facility, which is where they...
...double check that the computers are doing the numbers right. Just as she did for Glenn all those years ago.
(A picture from NASA of Katherine Johnson at work).
She had a long life and a good innings and now the stars have called her home.
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