Today I learned this :
In 1962, John Glenn lifted off in Friendship 7 to become the first American to orbit the planet.
Here's a brilliant (and short) true story about something that happened a few days before.
In 1962, John Glenn lifted off in Friendship 7 to become the first American to orbit the planet.
Here's a brilliant (and short) true story about something that happened a few days before.
Due to multiple computer problems with the (then) new IBM systems, Glenn demanded all the orbit calculations be recalculated by hand, by one person - a brilliant black female mathemetician called Katherine Johnson.
ONLY if Johnson's manual calculations matched those of the IBM, would Glenn trust the systems.
After a day and half of work, Johnson confirmed that the numbers were right, using a 44 ft wide blackboard and a stepladder.
(Image from the documentary 'Hidden Figures')
After a day and half of work, Johnson confirmed that the numbers were right, using a 44 ft wide blackboard and a stepladder.
(Image from the documentary 'Hidden Figures')
Before she died at the age of 101, she was very belatedly awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama.
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