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

[Page H1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE MEMORY OF KATHERINE JOHNSON

  (Mr. PALMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and 
incredible accomplishments of Katherine Johnson, a brilliant 
mathematician whose trailblazing work was instrumental in America's 
space exploration.
  Ms. Johnson passed away earlier this week at the age of 101 leaving 
behind a legacy not only of genius and dedication, but also of vitally 
important advancement in STEM fields for women and African Americans.
  Ms. Johnson's affinity for numbers was evident from an early age. She 
graduated from high school early and went on to study math and French 
at West Virginia State College. Later, she became the first African 
American woman to attend graduate school at West Virginia University.
  In 1953, Katherine Johnson accepted her first computing job with the 
agency that would become NASA. Despite intense discrimination 
throughout her years at NASA, she remained committed to advancing 
America's space program and broke barriers where she could. Eventually, 
she hand-calculated the flight path for America's first crewed space 
mission in 1961 and also helped calculate the trajectory for the famed 
Moon landing.
  When astronaut John Glenn prepared for his orbit around the Earth in 
1962, he asked for Johnson to verify the calculations in NASA's new 
computer tracking system. He said: ``If she says the computer is right, 
I will take it.''
  The impact of Katherine Johnson's groundbreaking work in math and 
science can hardly be overstated. American space exploration reached 
many of its milestones when it did due to her genius and commitment. 
Her perseverance also opened doors for women and African Americans in 
work fields previously closed to them.
  I stand with my colleagues in the House and countless Americans in 
gratitude to Ms. Johnson's hard work and pioneering spirit that have 
undoubtedly made America a better place.

                          ____________________