Woman Who Helped Apollo 11 Land On The Moon, Has Died Aged 101

Katherine Johnson, the pioneering NASA mathematician whose manual calculations allowed the first American astronaut to land on the moon in 1969 and inspired the film Hidden Figures, has died aged 101.  

NASA confirmed Johnson's passing in a tweet on Monday morning. 

'Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers,' the tweet read.   

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine praised Johnson as 'an American hero' whose 'pioneering legacy will never be forgotten'.