Katherine Johnson is a famous NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send the first American astronaut into space and although she never made it to the final frontier, her name will.
Northrop Grumman, an aerospace and defense technology firm, announced it has named the NG-15 Cygnus cargo ship SS. Katherine Johnson.
The craft is set to launch to the International Space Station on February 20, marking the 59th anniversary of when Johnson s calculations made it possible for John Glenn s Mercury-Atlas 6 mission.
Northrop Grumman made the announcement in celebration of Black History month, saying it is the company s tradition to name each Cygnus spacecraft after an individual who has played a pivotal role in human spaceflight.