Katherine Johnson – NASA Mathematician, Depicted In “Hidden Figures” Dies [Condolences]

Katherine Johnson – NASA Mathematician, Depicted In “Hidden Figures” Dies [Condolences]

NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, depicted in the 2016 film, “Hidden Figures,” has tragically passed according to ABC News. Hired by NASA in 1953, her calculations made it possible for the first American astronaut to successfully orbit the Earth.

In a tweet from NASA, Katherine’s death was announced:

“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. Katherine Johnson, 1918-2020”

Taraji P. Henson, who starred as Katherine in “Hidden Figures,” gave this statement on the late science icon:

“@tarajiphenson 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 apart of bringing your story to life. You/your story was hidden and thank GOD you are #hiddennomore God bless your beautiful family. I am so honored to have sat and broke bread with you all. My thoughts and prayers are with you! #RIHKatherineJohnson #representationmatters”

The NAACP offered this comment:

“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,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said 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.”

Katherine Johnson was 101.

Written by Miata Shanay