In 1962, John Glenn made history as the first American to orbit the Earth. But behind that mission’s success was Katherine Johnson, a brilliant NASA mathematician whose hand calculations were so trusted that Glenn himself refused to launch until she verified the computer’s numbers. Her work helped usher in the space age and broke racial and gender barriers. Johnson’s story, along with those of fellow NASA pioneers Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, was later honored in the 2016 film "Hidden Figures." A powerful reminder that behind every historic mission, there are often unsung heroes. #HiddenFigures #KatherineJohnson #WomenInSTEM #NASALegend #BlackHistory #SpacePioneer