February 27, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 39 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H1241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF KATHERINE GOBLE JOHNSON

  (Mrs. LURIA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a great 
American hero, Katherine Johnson.
  Katherine was a skilled mathematician, a loyal NASA employee, a 
mother, a daughter, but, most importantly, a trailblazer.
  In 1953, she began working at the National Advisory Committee for 
Aeronautics West Area Computing unit, where she provided equations and 
computations that were essential to the success of the early space 
program.
  At NASA Langley, she played an important role in NASA's Mercury 
program of manned space flights from 1961 to 1963. Without her 
expertise, the space travel of Alan Shepard and John Glenn would not 
have been possible.
  At the apex of her career, Johnson was part of the team that 
calculated the trajectory of the Apollo 11 mission of 1969, which sent 
the first three men to the Moon. And now, her work will ensure that the 
first woman and the next man will take steps on the Moon by 2024.
  This is the legacy of Katherine Johnson. I am proud to recognize her 
today.

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