MUSIC
BRIDGET:
TAG: Welcome to the maiden voyage of The Women’s Mercury, who
always
ask the question, “What did women do in the olden days and why
don’t we know about it?”
Our first story is ready for take-off. Danielle last name, take it
away…
Audio : Rocket blasting into space
DANIELLE:
In mid- twentieth century America, what course could a female
mathematical genius chart for her career? Math teacher. But in 1953 Dr. Katherine G Johnson left
teaching to begin a career in Aeronautics at NACA later known as NASA. Dr.
Johnson joined the pool of female mathematical calculators who performed the
task of “a human computer” or Johnson’s loving term, computers in skirts.
In 1958, Johnson was asked to join a team of aeronautical engineers
to calculate trajectories for space travel.
Dr. Katherine Johnson never returned to the math pool of skirts. From
Project Mercury to Apollo 11 first moon landing to the Space Shuttle, Dr.
Katherine Johnson was there and known for her accuracy in computerized
celestial navigation.
It was Dr. Johnson’s back up plan the Apollo 13 crew used to
return safely home from space.
In 2015, for her contributions to space exploration, President
Barack
Obama presented Dr. Johnson, now 98, with America’s
highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
To learn more about the brilliant physicist, space scientist Dr. Katherine G. Johnson and other
extraordinary women in history, visit us at
womensmercury.com This is Danielle last name
BRIDGET: And Bridget
Gethins, Keri Wormald, thanking you, WCVE, Manchester-Group and Dr. Johnson for
shooting for the stars. OR
BRIDGET: And Bridget Gethins KERI: Keri Wormald
BRIDGET: Thanking you, WCVE, Manchester-Group, and Dr. Johnson for
shooting for the stars.
Join us next time when we learn Lady Lovelace is not a clothing
line but one of the first computer scientist.
