Katherine Johnson, the pioneering NASA mathematician who was portrayed by Taraji P Henson in the Oscar-nominated 2016 film Hidden Figures, has died at the age of 101.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Katherine Johnson's passing on Monday, tweeting: "The @NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson's courage and the milestones we could not have reached without her. Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world."
The @NASA family will never forget Katherine Johnson's courage and the milestones we could not have reached without her. Her story and her grace continue to inspire the world. https://t.co/UPOqo0sLfb pic.twitter.com/xwnRX9oZoi
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) February 24, 2020
"Ms Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space," Bridenstine continued in a statement.
"Her dedication and skill as a mathematician helped put humans on the Moon and before that made it possible for our astronauts to take the first steps in space that we now follow on a journey to Mars. Her Presidential Medal of Freedom was a well-deserved recognition."
With slide rules and pencils, Katherine Johnson's brilliant mind helped launch our nation into space.
— NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020
No longer a Hidden Figure, her bravery and commitment to excellence leaves an eternal legacy for us all: https://t.co/1D6xzQNWrg pic.twitter.com/pvUvoRhuxp
"We will continue building on her legacy and work tirelessly to increase opportunities for everyone who has something to contribute toward the ongoing work of raising the bar of human potential," the statement concluded.
We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://t.co/Tl3tsHAfYB pic.twitter.com/dGiGmEVvAW
— NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020
Reuters reports that Katherine Johnson worked with NASA for 33 years on programmes including the Mercury and Apollo missions - including the first Moon landing in 1969 - and the early years of the space shuttle.
The 2016 Margot Lee Shetterly book Hidden Figures told the story of the work done by Katherine Johnson and other African-American women in calculating rocket trajectories and earth orbits, and the racism and discrimination they overcame.
The 2016 film of the same name cast Taraji P Henson as Katherine Johnson with Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae portraying her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson respectively.
At the Oscars in February 2017, Johnson joined the stars of Hidden Figures onstage and received a standing ovation. Her former colleagues Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan passed away in 2005 and 2008 respectively.
Katherine Johnson was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former US President Barack Obama in 2015. He cited her in 2016 during his State of the Union address.
Reuters reports that Katherine Johnson became mathematics-obsessed during her childhood in West Virginia, with her parents moving 120 miles so she could attend a high school for black children. She entered West Virginia State College at 15, and went on to earn degrees in maths and French. She became one of the first black graduate students at West Virginia University in 1938.
After teaching for seven years, Katherine Johnson went to work for NASA forerunner the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1953 and was chosen to be a member of the NASA team that made Alan Shepard the first American in space in 1961. She retired from NASA in 1986.
Paying tribute on Instagram, Taraji P Henson wrote: "Thank you QUEEN #KatherineJohnson for sharing your intelligence, poise, grace and beauty with the world! Because of your hard work little girls EVERYWHERE can dream as big as the MOON!!! Your legacy will live on FORVER AND EVER!!! You ran so we could fly!!! I will forever be honored to have been a part of bringing your story to life."
Hidden Figures director Theodore Melfi tweeted that Katherine Johnson had told him at their first meeting: "I don't want it to be all about me, there were so many woman that worked as hard as I did. They all deserve to be known."
The first day I met #KatherineJohnston she said, "Why do you want to make a movie about me?" I replied, "Because the world needs to know about you." Without a moment's hesitation she retorted......... pic.twitter.com/xhDqrZ2TMB
— Theodore Melfi (@theodoremelfi) February 24, 2020
"Well, I don't want it to be all about me, there were so many woman that worked as hard as I did. They all deserve to be known."....... pic.twitter.com/uYWxwtmoq9
— Theodore Melfi (@theodoremelfi) February 24, 2020
"It is that spirit that KJ lived by," the filmmaker continued. "It is that spirit that got us to space, to the moon."
It is that spirit that KJ lived by. It is that spirit that got us to space, to the moon. It is that spirit by which #katherinejohnston leaves this earth, better than she found it. And we are all blessed as a result of 1 selfless woman standing for others, doing her part with love
— Theodore Melfi (@theodoremelfi) February 24, 2020
