Title
Resolution in Recognition of Katherine G. Johnson
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Resolution honoring Katherine G. Johnson as a distinguished citizen for the contributions she has made to NASA and the City of Hampton.
Recommendation:
Rec
Pass the resolution in recognition of Katherine G. Johnson for her contributions to NASA and the City of Hampton.
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Katherine G. Johnson was an educator at the elementary and high school levels;
WHEREAS, she was among the first African-American mathematicians to work at NASA;
WHEREAS, these women were known as "computers who wore skirts;
WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson worked on the early space program, including computing the launch window for astronaut Alan Shepard’s 1961 Mercury Mission;
WHEREAS, she was tasked with calculations to propel space capsules into orbit around the moon and to send landing units to and from the lunar surface;
WHEREAS, she was asked to confirm computer calculations for astronaut John Glenn’s orbit around Earth;
WHEREAS, she also calculated the trajectory for the 1969 Apollo flight to the moon;
WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson’s calculations are legendary;
WHEREAS, in November of 2015, Dr. Johnson was presented with the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama;
WHEREAS, in February of 2016, the National Technical Association and The Sankofa Projects presented Dr. Johnson with a personalized bench to commemorate her contributions to space and our nation;
WHEREAS, the event was held at Hampton’s Virginia Air and Space Center; and
WHEREAS, a film will be released in January 2017 about Dr. Johnson and other women, based on the book “Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race”;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that Dr. Katherine G. Johnson be, and hereby is, recognized and shall be presented with the Distinguished Citizen Award for her contributions to NASA and our community.
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