Who would you trust to run the numbers to put you safely into Earth’s orbit and get you safely back? (without an electronic computer)
In 1962, these word were a testimony to the skill of Katherine Johnson (NASA human compute-r), who Astronaut John Glenn trusted to get him safely (as possible) in to orbit and insisted that she validate the calculations made by the electronic computer’s calculations before he was ready to launch.
Today we help her celebrate, as NASA puts it ; ) , her 100th trip around the sun!
#Happy100Katherine!
Today, retired @NASA_Langley mathematician Katherine Johnson makes her 100th trip around the Sun as she celebrates her birthday! Send her birthday wishes using #Happy100Katherine & learn about her calculations that launched @NASA_Astronauts to space 🚀: https://t.co/Iv2DqAt1LK pic.twitter.com/DVvVYnrupe
— NASA (@NASA) August 26, 2018
#Happy100Katherine!