She Calculated the Math to the Moon-- Dr. Katherine G. Johnson

SANKOFA reminds us that in order to know where we are going, we must know where we come from. On

Monday, February 22, 2016, we took a step back in time to honor one of our greats. The National Technical Association and The Sankofa Projects hosted a private, intimate reception reception and unveiling in honor of NASA Mathematician and NASA Pioneer Dr. Katherine G. Johnson to acknowledge the invaluable contributions she made to our community, NASA and to our Nation. In attendence at the reception which was held in partnership with the Virginia Air and Sopace Center was her family, her closest friends NASA colleagues, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members, church members, city officials and council people and Astronaut Leland Melvin, Congressman Bobby Scott, Mayors Wallace and McKinley Price and NASA Langley Research Center Director Dr. David Bowles and Violist Barbara Kane Baker all gathered to acknowledge her. Dr. Johnson broke racial and gender barriers, intergrated West Virginia University, was among the first women and among the first African Americans to work at NACA now NASA. She is responsible for calculating the trajectories which put the first man in space and her calculations put Neil Armstrong on the moon. It is said that Armstrong specifically asked for Dr. Johnson to check the computers calculations and if Johnson said it was accurate. he trusted it! Now that genius is impressive!!! The NTA and Sankofa unveiled a metal bench which will be installed and dedicated in a public reception in the Spring 2016 in Carousel Park in Hampton. We will keep you posted on details for this public event. Thank you Ronald Orme, Chester Eugene Williams and Anita Holley for these images. More images and video to come. Bill Thomas​ of Thirdiimage Event and Location Photography​.