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As the space race unfolded amid geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Katherine was thrust into critical projects aimed at landing astronauts in space. She calculated trajectories, ensuring that the astronaut missions were mapped out with precision. Her contributions to the Mercury missions, particularly for astronauts like Alan Shepard and later John Glenn, underscored her unique talent.
John Glenn famously sought Johnson’s verification of computer-generated calculations before his orbital flight in 1962. His trust in her abilities highlighted her invaluable role, despite the era's prevailing biases against women, especially women of color in STEM fields.