Katherine Johnson

Thanks to Andrew Ross, who wrote to say:  “I just came across this notice from Upworthy via Facebook:”

Happy birthday, Katherine Johnson! You may know her as the incredible NASA scientist and physicist who guided the trajectory of Project Mercury *and* the 1969 Apollo moon landing. She turns 97 today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson

UPDATE 11/20/15:  Katherine Johnson will be one of 17 to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom when the awards are presented by President Barack Obama on Nov. 24, according to a White House news release.
Video of Johnson discussing her work.

UPDATE 4/12/16:  Thank you to mathemagician Arthur Benjamin, who sent this link to a Daily Beast Article.