Katherine Johnson, pictured here at NASA Langley Research Center in 1983, was one of NASA's "human computers" featured in the movie Hidden Figures. She was a mathematician and physicist who performed complex calculations that enabled humans to successfully achieve space flight. In 1953 Katherine began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA’s) Langley laboratory in the all-black West Area Computing section. In her career at NASA (formerly NACA), Johnson worked on the Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Mission to Mars programs.

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Size: 2561px × 3600px
Location: NASA Langley Research Center
Photo credit: © Alpha Historica / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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