Final answer:
Katherine Johnson was an esteemed mathematician at NASA whose work was crucial to the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing and other space missions. She co-authored 26 research reports and is celebrated for her role as a trailblazer for women of color in the field of aeronautics. Johnson's life and achievements were popularized by the book and film 'Hidden Figures.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Katherine Johnson was a pioneering mathematician who made significant contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with her work at NASA. Born in 1918, Johnson's precision in celestial navigation was critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Known for her ability to perform complex calculations, she played a key role in determining the trajectory for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. It is said that she approached computational problems with the insight of, "You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I'll do it backwards and tell you when to take off." During her 33-year career at NASA, Johnson co-authored 26 research reports and was revered for her intellectual curiosity. Her story gained widespread recognition through the book and movie Hidden Figures, highlighting her accomplishments as one of the first Black women to work at NASA.