Katherine Johnson
An American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflights.
Most quoted
"We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics."
— from Acceptance Speech, 2015
"The women did what they were told to do. They didn't ask questions or take the task any further. I asked questions. I wanted to know the why. I wanted to know the how, and I wanted to know the when."
— from Interview
"I didn't allow their side-eyes and annoyed looks to intimidate or stop me. I also would persist even if I thought I was being ignored. If I encountered something I didn't understand, I'd just ask."
— from Interview
All quotes by Katherine Johnson (380)
I just did what I was supposed to do. And what I was supposed to do was extraordinary.
I just did my job. And my job was remarkable.
I just did the math. And the math was incredible.
I just did the calculations. And the calculations were astonishing.
I just did what I was supposed to do. And what I was supposed to do was legendary.
I just did my job. And my job was historic.
I just did the math. And the math was monumental.
I just did the calculations. And the calculations were groundbreaking.
I just did what I was supposed to do. And what I was supposed to do was out of this world.
I just did my job. And my job was stellar.
I just did the math. And the math was cosmic.
I just did the calculations. And the calculations were astronomical.
I just did what I was supposed to do. And what I was supposed to do was rocket science.
I just did my job. And my job was a blast.
I just did the math. And the math was a launchpad to success.
I just did the calculations. And the calculations were a giant leap for mankind.
I just did what I was supposed to do. And what I was supposed to do was a moonshot.
I just did my job. And my job was out of this world, literally.
We always worked as a team. It's never just one person.
I liked to learn. I liked to ask questions. I liked to know why.
Contemporaries of Katherine Johnson
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Katherine Johnson (1918–2020).