Public Figure Profiles

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson (née Coleman; August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. During her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform the tasks. The space agency noted her "historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist".Johnson's work included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for Project Mercury spaceflights, including those for astronauts Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and John Glenn, the first American in orbit, and rendezvous paths for the Apollo Lunar Module and command module on flights to the Moon. Her calculations were also essential to the beginning of the Space Shuttle program, and she worked on plans for a mission to Mars. She was known as a "human computer" for her tremendous mathematical capability and ability to work with space trajectories with such little technology and recognition at the time.

In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2016, she was presented with the Silver Snoopy Award by NASA astronaut Leland D. Melvin and a NASA Group Achievement Award. She was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson as a lead character in the 2016 film Hidden Figures. In 2019, Johnson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress. In 2021, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

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Some of their strengths

Katherine Johnson has many admirable traits.

Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Artistic, Intense, Intuitive, Sophisticated, Kind, Passionate, and Generous.

Smart and Sophisticated

According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Katherine Johnson is someone who is a smart, sophisticated, and organized person who displays kindness and grace in every day interactions, and who also has a passionate soul. A person who defines themself by their friends and what groups they belong to.

Adaptable and Versatile

Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Katherine Johnson well know them as someone who can be adaptable, flexible, and polite, like a flower or a sapling.

Courteous and Easygoing

According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Katherine Johnson as someone who is polite, modest, and diplomatic.

A person who tends to be socially popular, who loves intellectual or creative activities, who has a talent for communicating with and understanding the needs of others, and who seems to have a knack for getting recognized for their efforts.

Dynamic and Imaginative

Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Katherine Johnson is someone who can bring a purifying element to situations, and who is a risk-taker with vision and imagination.

They are also someone who is active, giving, optimistic, and cheerful, and who possesses a charisma that attracts friends and admirers.

Altruistic and Purposeful

According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Katherine Johnson tends to be someone who has a desire to be of service to a higher calling and who is always trying to perfect things. Who can be practical and polished, reserved and methodical, and who tends to trust internal judgment before trusting anyone else at face value.

Some of Katherine Johnson's challenges

While Katherine Johnson has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.

For example, Katherine Johnson can be Difficult, Perfectionist, Stubborn, Idle, Complicated, Brusque, and Indecisive.

Difficult and Perfectionist

One of Katherine Johnson's key challenges is that they are someone who can be difficult and too much of a perfectionist.

Indecisive and Materialistic

Katherine Johnson is someone who can be indecisive, indulgent, and materialistic, who can have difficulty focusing on a single career or profession, have difficulty following orders or respecting authority, and who can suffer from "analysis paralysis".

Critical and Bossy

Finally, Katherine Johnson also can be too focused on the small details of life, try to control whatever is happening, and be finicky and demanding.

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