Which NASA facility is named after her?

Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility

Katherine Johnson Trivia Quiz – Names, Facts and Surprises

This Katherine Johnson trivia quiz covers her early talent for math, her work as a NASA human computer, John Glenn's orbital flight, Apollo 11 and the Hidden Figures story. Ten questions bring names, facts and surprises from her life.

Start Katherine Johnson Trivia Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Birth
In which state was Katherine Johnson born in 1918?
Job
What was Johnson's job title at NACA, later NASA?
Glenn
Which astronaut asked for Johnson to check the computer's numbers?
Shepard
Johnson calculated the trajectory for which first American in space?
Apollo
Johnson helped calculate trajectories for which mission?
Center
Where did Johnson work?
Film
Which 2016 film told her story?
Medal
Which honor did President Obama give her in 2015?
Building
Which NASA facility is named after her?
Age
How old was Johnson when she died in 2020?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which state was Katherine Johnson born in 1918?
Answer: West Virginia
She began high school at age 10.
Q2: What was Johnson's job title at NACA, later NASA?
Answer: Computer
Human computers did complex calculations by hand.
Q3: Which astronaut asked for Johnson to check the computer's numbers?
Answer: John Glenn
He said if she says they're good, I'm ready to go.
Q4: Johnson calculated the trajectory for which first American in space?
Answer: Alan Shepard
His flight was in 1961.
Q5: Johnson helped calculate trajectories for which mission?
Answer: Apollo 11
She worked on Moon landing calculations.
Q6: Where did Johnson work?
Answer: Langley Research Center
It is in Hampton, Virginia.
Q7: Which 2016 film told her story?
Answer: Hidden Figures
Taraji P. Henson played her.
Q8: Which honor did President Obama give her in 2015?
Answer: Presidential Medal of Freedom
It is the highest US civilian honor.
Q9: Which NASA facility is named after her?
Answer: Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility
It opened in 2017.
Q10: How old was Johnson when she died in 2020?
Answer: 101
She lived to see her story celebrated.

Katherine Johnson Trivia Quiz – The Mathematician Who Sent Astronauts to Space

Katherine Johnson showed extraordinary math talent from childhood in West Virginia. She graduated from college at 18 and became one of the first Black students to integrate West Virginia University's graduate school.

In 1953 she joined NACA's Langley laboratory as a human computer. She calculated flight paths for Alan Shepard's 1961 flight and checked computer calculations for John Glenn's orbit at his request.

Johnson also worked on Apollo 11 and the Space Shuttle. Her story, shared in the book and film Hidden Figures, brought recognition to Black women who made the space program possible.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for science fans exploring Katherine Johnson's life.

Where she was born
What a human computer was
How she helped Glenn
What Hidden Figures tells
How she was honored

Did You Know?

She co-wrote 26 research reports.
Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson worked with her.
She retired from NASA in 1986.
She received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019.
A Mars rover team honored her.