Katherine Johnson NASA Timeline By lrigatti Aug 26, 1918 Katherine Johnson is Born 1936 Johnson graduates college 1953 Johnson is hired by NACA Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik launched starting the Space Race Oct 1, 1958 NACA becomes NASA Apr 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin is the First Man in Space Feb 20, 1962 Friendship 7 Flight Jul 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong lands on moon 1986 Johnson retires from NASA Nov 24, 2015 Johnson is given Presidential Medal of Honor