Great Minds: Katherine Johnson, Human Computer

The video discusses the challenges of early space flight and highlights Katherine Johnson's significant contributions to NASA's missions, including the first American in space and the Apollo 11 moon landing. It covers her early life, education, and career at NACA and NASA, emphasizing her role in calculating trajectories and ensuring mission success. The video concludes with acknowledgments to supporters.

What was one of the main challenges in early space flight?

• Insufficient funding for missions

• Calculating mission paths by hand

• Limited number of astronauts

• Lack of interest in space exploration

Why did Katherine Johnson's family move to Institute, West Virginia?

• To enable Katherine and her siblings to attend high school

• To allow her father to work in a new town

• To find better job opportunities

• To be closer to relatives

What was Katherine Johnson's role at NACA?

• She was a mission director

• She was a pilot

• She was an astronaut

• She was a 'computer' checking engineers' calculations

What was the goal of Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 mission?

• To orbit the Earth multiple times

• To explore Mars

• To land on the moon

• To reach space and return safely

How did Katherine Johnson contribute to John Glenn's orbital mission?

• She was the mission's spokesperson

• She designed the spacecraft

• She confirmed the computer's calculations

• She piloted the spacecraft

What was a unique challenge of the Apollo 11 mission?

• Landing on a moving target, the moon

• Finding a new planet

• Communicating with aliens

• Returning to Earth without a parachute

When did Katherine Johnson retire from NASA?

• 1990

• 1975

• 1986

• 1969