5. Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician whose calculations were vital to NASA’s earliest space missions, including John Glenn’s historic orbital flight. Her meticulous work set her apart from contemporaries, earning respect in a field dominated by men. Johnson’s legacy extends beyond her technical achievements; she broke barriers for women and people of color in STEM. As NASA.gov notes, her contributions continue to inspire new generations to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—all while changing the course of space exploration.
