Katherine Johnson

Creola Katherine Johnson 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".

26 August 1918

Born on the same birth day (26 August): Acharya Chatursen Shastri • Albert Sabin • Alex Kellner • Anahit Tsitsikian • Brandon McDonald (gridiron football) • Branford Marsalis • Brendan Harris • Christopher Isherwood • Etelka Keserű • Irving R. Levine • Jimmy Rushing • Joe Hulme • Lars Stindl • Maxwell D. Taylor • Meredith Eaton • Mike Colter • Nicol David • Saeko Chiba

Born in the same month (August 1918): Albert Seedman • Billy Reay • C. Buddingh' • Eddie Jefferson • Jacqueline Susann • Kermit Beahan • L. B. Cole • Michael John Wise • Richard Greene