NASA's Katherine Johnson, portrayed in 'Hidden Figures', receives standing ovation at Oscars

New Delhi: Katherine Johnson, the African American physicist and mathematician who made contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers at NASA, received a standing ovation at the 89th Academy Awards (Oscars 2017) on Sunday.

Johnson, portrayed in the movie 'Hidden Figures' by Taraji P Henson, worked for NASA as a research mathematician for more than 30 years, according to the US space agency's website.

The film 'Hidden Figures', based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson - brilliant African-American women who were essential to the success of early spaceflight.

Johnson, now 98 years old, thanked the crowd for their support as she appeared onstage alongside Henson and two other lead actresses in “Hidden Figures', Janelle Monáe and Octavia Spencer, as they announced the winner for Best Documentary Feature.

She was a computer, when computers wore skirts. Learn all about Katherine Johnson: https://t.co/gMQo6pNaC7 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/qggLC385ZZ

— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2017

 

Spencer, who essayed the role of Dorothy Vaughan in the film, was nominated for best supporting actress. Janelle Monae played Mary Jackson onscreen in the historic biopic 'Hidden Figures'.

The movie was also nominated in other categories, including best adapted screenplay and best picture.

Johnson calculated many space flight trajectories, including early NASA missions of John Glenn and Alan Shepard, and the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon, through the Space Shuttle program.

Her calculations were critical to the success of these missions. Johnson also did calculations for plans for a mission to Mars.

Today, NASA embraces their legacy and strives to include everyone who wants to participate in its ongoing exploration.