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Katherine Johnson has died.

87 replies

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 24/02/2020 20:11

www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/katherine-johnson-nasa-mathematician-depicted-hidden-figures-dead-101-n1141566

A NASA Mathematician who literally helped put men on the moon has died age 101.

She said her greatest contribution to space exploration was making "the calculations that helped sync Project Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon-orbiting Command and Service Module." In other words, helping to put men on the moon in 1969.

What a Shero. I’ve not seen the film Hidden Figures discussed in the article, so I’m gong to put that right. So many incredible woman who contributed to the space programmes.

OP posts:
BoogieFeet · 24/02/2020 22:47

RIP Katherine Johnson

An amazing woman.

DidoLamenting · 24/02/2020 22:43

A post policing the OPs language as the first response to it is bloody disrespectful of the inspirational woman who has just died

I think a stupid , made- up word is disrespectful of this inspirational woman.

DidoLamenting · 24/02/2020 22:42

She was an amazing woman

“Shero” is a ridiculous word

Agreed on both counts.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2020 22:40

Amazing woman.

(A post policing the OPs language as the first response to it is bloody disrespectful of the inspirational woman who has just died. )

NotAGirl · 24/02/2020 22:30

Amazing woman

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 24/02/2020 22:13

I've found her to be such an inspirational woman. I learnt about her from the films- going to find the book aswell. I thought the calculators were amazing.

aliasundercover · 24/02/2020 22:10

'Shero' is a ridiculous non-word tho, and I don't see why Banana needs attacking for pointing it out.

I agree that 'shero' is a bit silly, but you can point this out without telling someone they are 'far gone' and need to grow up. That's just rude.

DeRigueurMortis · 24/02/2020 22:04

RIP Katherine.

Genius, trail blazer and inspiration.

Babdoc · 24/02/2020 21:54

I thought the female of hero was heroine? Hidden figures was a fabulous film, I loved it. Great to see these amazing women getting some very belated recognition.

EarringsandLipstick · 24/02/2020 21:45

'Shero' is a ridiculous non-word tho, and I don't see why Banana needs attacking for pointing it out.

Otherwise yes, an amazing woman, fully agree.

BookWitch · 24/02/2020 21:36

RIP Katherine Johnson. Amazing woman.

I highly recommend the book Hidden Figures, loads more in it than the film (which was also brilliant)

Her colleague Mary Jackson (first black female engineer at NASA) was also a big influence in the US Girl Scouts and was a key figure in ending segregation in the organisation significantly earlier than the US Boy Scouts. (in her spare time when she wasn't putting men in Space)

Bigblue20 · 24/02/2020 21:32

RIP Katherine Johnson

A great woman

LizzieMacQueen · 24/02/2020 21:02

Dying at 101, a prime number, seems fitting.

Dyrne · 24/02/2020 20:59

Absolute inspiration. I watched Hidden Figures open mouthed. She was a much stronger woman than I’ll ever be - she put up with so much discrimination both due to her Sex and her Race and did a difficult job well with her head held high.

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/02/2020 20:57

She's also in Timeless, a ridiculous series with time travel that I love. They also have some great women and black people who've made history. Harriet Tubman, the American suffragists, Marie Curie.

RIP

boatyardblues · 24/02/2020 20:57

I watched Hidden Figures with my young son and it prompted a great discussion about sexism and racism and how closed attitudes and a lack of diversity at that time deprived society of many great thinkers, scientists and mathematicians. What Katherine Johnson achieved is truly inspiring - a great woman and role model.

PerkingFaintly · 24/02/2020 20:56

Oh have I missed Hidden Figures? I'd been hoping to catch that.

Thank you for the thread, A1.

Raising a glass to an amazing woman. Go well, Katherine Johnson.Wine

Strangerthantruth · 24/02/2020 20:55

www.etymonline.com/word/hero

Hero means man.

Glenthebattleostrich · 24/02/2020 20:53

She was an inspiration. I helped DD learn about her for black history month. She was an inspiration.

And yes, hidden figures is a fantastic film. Must read the book

BingBongSong · 24/02/2020 20:51

The film was excellent, such an inspirational story. This clip has been doing the rounds on my newsfeed recently:

AutumnCrow · 24/02/2020 20:49

I think you're on the wrong planet, Banana

Thanks for the thresd, @Al1Langdownthecleghole. She was awesome and under-appreciated.

Lordfrontpaw · 24/02/2020 20:49

I wonder what her IQ was? She must have been a genius to - as a woman - get as far as she did.

I also wonder if she will be buried in space (if you know what I mean - my sister has asked to be cremated and shot into space - god knows how we’ll manage that)?

MintyMabel · 24/02/2020 20:47

She was an amazing woman.

“Shero” is a ridiculous word.

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 24/02/2020 20:46

fly high Katherine Johnson Flowers

Amazing woman; my kids have been blow away learning what she was able to do with her brain and paper & pen

ShriekingBansheela · 24/02/2020 20:45

She had to fight sexism and racism in order to make the contribution she did.

Sneer off, Banana