Katherine Johnson Age and Birth Details
Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. As of 2025, she is 107 years old in elapsed years since birth. She passed away on February 24, 2020, at age 101. This profile clarifies how to calculate her age at any given date and confirms her birth date as the definitive starting point for age computations.
Why Birth Date Matters for Age Questions
To determine how old Katherine Johnson is or was at a specific time, you start from her confirmed date of birth, August 26, 1918. Age is the difference between that date and the date of interest. For living persons, this yields current elapsed years. For historical persons, it enables precise statements such as age at milestone events. Her birth certificate and biographical records are the authoritative sources for this data.
Key Biographical Timeline and Age at Milestones
Placing key events in chronological context shows how her age aligns with achievements. The table below summarizes verified milestones and her age at each point.
| Event | Date | Age (Years) | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | August 26, 1918 | 0 | Birth certificate |
| Graduated high school | 1934 | 15–16 | School records |
| Graduated college (West Virginia State) | 1937 | 19 | College transcript |
| Joined NASA Langley | 1953 | 35 | NASA personnel records |
| Space Task Group work (Freedom 7 trajectory) | 1958–1960 | 40–42 | NASA historical reports |
| Trajectory for John Glenn flight | 1962–1963 | 44–45 | NASA mission documentation |
| Retirement from NASA | 1986 | 68 | NASA official records |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 2015 | 97 | White House archive |
| Death | February 24, 2020 | 101 | Obituary |
Age Calculations at Common Reference Points
Because age depends on the comparison date, here are representative calculations based on her August 26, 1918 birth date.
- On August 26, 2018: 100 years old (turns 100)
- On February 24, 2020: 101 years old (at time of passing)
- On January 1, 2020: 101 years old (elapsed years)
- On January 1, 1969: 50 years old (approximate)
Historical Context and Career Highlights
Katherine Johnson’s work as a mathematician at NASA verified electronic computer calculations for orbital mechanics. She is best known for trajectory computations for Alan Shepard’s 1961 suborbital flight and John Glenn’s 1962 orbital flight. Her contributions were highlighted in books and films, cementing her status as a pioneering scientist whose influence extended well beyond her age or tenure.
Clarifying Misinformation About Age and Status
Some online sources may circulate outdated or incorrect ages, especially after her death in 2020. It is accurate to say that, as of her passing, she was 101 years old. Any claims of her being alive beyond February 24, 2020, are not supported by verified records. For current age references, use her birth and death dates as fixed anchors.
Legacy and Enduring Influence
Katherine Johnson’s legacy is measured in both human impact and symbolic significance. By breaking barriers for women and African-Americans in STEM, she expanded opportunity and set a standard of rigorous technical contribution. Her age at key moments underscores a lifelong commitment to precision and service, and her work remains foundational to how we understand spaceflight and applied mathematics.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was Katherine Johnson born? She was born on August 26, 1918.
- How old was she when she joined NASA? She joined NASA in 1953 at age 35.
- How old was she when John Glenn flew? She was approximately 44–45 years old during the Friendship 7 mission in 1962–1963.
- Is Katherine Johnson still alive? No. She died on February 24, 2020, at age 101.
- What was her age at retirement? She retired from NASA in 1986 at age 68.
How to Determine Age From Birth Date
To compute age at any point, subtract the birth year from the target year and adjust for whether the birthday has occurred in that year. For example, on January 1, 2020, she had not yet reached her August 26 birthday, so her age was 101 based on elapsed years since 1918. This method ensures consistent, fact-based age reporting across timelines and datasets.