What does Katherine Johnson do?

Katherine Johnson was an African American mathematician whose calculations were crucial to the success of NASA's early space missions. She played a key role in trajectory analysis for John Glenn's orbital flight and contributed to the Apollo moon landing missions. Johnson's work helped break down racial and gender barriers in the fields of science and engineering, making her a pioneering figure in both space exploration and civil rights. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 for her contributions.