

“Things in the Bible helped me live…life and believe that God can help me do certain things and work with me in certain ways,” Darden told CBN News. Specifically, she found consolation in Scripture. It was a source of personal enrichment and inspiration. During this time, her faith kept her going. Between the workload and the sense of having to swim upstream in a predominantly male scholastic atmosphere, the pressure was a lot to put on herself. Furthermore, she was typically the only female presence in the classroom. Soon she was taking classes at Hampton University, a daunting undertaking as she found herself taking six math courses simultaneously. This sparked her decision to study physics. She did, however, come to an understanding that, while math was stimulating, she had a definite interest in the physical sciences as well. Regardless of the headlines, young Darden had no particular interest in getting involved with the space race. Three years later, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin brought more attention to the U.S.S.R.’s off-world achievements when he became the first human being in space. During the Cold War, many such fears surfaced in the consciousness of the U.S. (modern-day Russia) successfully launched the Sputnik spacecraft into orbit, 16-year-old Darden looked on as many Americans grew concerned that the looming satellite threatened nuclear warfare. Her curiosity led to investigation – and inevitably to taking the doll apart to see how it got its voice.Īs she grew older, the great space race punctuated many stages of her life including her early years as a student delving into mathematics. Instead of playing with it as most girls may have, Darden became engrossed at how this human-like toy could talk. She recalled once being given a doll by her mother. They refuse to let their dignity be taken away, but they prove themselves by responding in a Christian manner.ĭarden’s fascination with science and space began when she was just a child through her natural curiosity. Even in opposition, the women love their country and their jobs.
Katherine johnson nasa engineer movie#
The movie encourages a positive moral perspective supporting our God-given liberty and basic civil rights. The three lead actresses powerfully command the screen with grace.

HIDDEN FIGURES is a little known story, but one that honors three women who served their country in amazing ways. Katherine must work in the face of opposition due to her being a woman and an African-American, but she persists with strength and class. A brilliant mathematician, Katherine proves herself a critical addition to the Space Task Group helping send Astronaut John Glenn into space to orbit the earth and return safely. HIDDEN FIGURES is an engaging, uplifting salute to three African-American women who contribute to the NASA program during the 1960s Space Race with Russia. Though she wasn’t featured in the production, the biblical principles in the movie applied to her life, as well. HIDDEN FIGURES was even adapted for the big screen back in 2016. Today, she is heralded as the fourth “Hidden Figure,” a title used by author Margot Lee Shetterly to refer to NASA’s “human computers” Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Darden herself: all of whom were scientifically-minded African American women whose example aided the civil rights movement. Obtaining her dream job wasn’t an easy goal, though.

I am proud to say that because she so epically succeeded in breaking barriers, I now have the opportunity to work on my own NASA mission.Renowned NASA Engineer Known as the Fourth ‘Hidden Figure’ Took Inspiration from the Bibleīy the end of her 40-year stint with NASA, Christine Darden was known as a brilliant mathematician and engineer. I wish I had the chance to thank her in person for all the young girls she inspired - including me. I’m so glad I had someone like Katherine Johnson to look up to, because not only did I choose to become an engineer in light of her groundbreaking work, but I knew that if she could overcome all the obstacles she faced back then, I could do it now. Growing up I was always told I should love art and history and focus more on the way I looked and presented myself than on numbers and math.

Little me never thought that I could make it in a field that was dominated by men. When I first started falling in love with space and NASA, my research led me to Katherine Johnson.
