NASA tweeted about Johnson's death, saying "we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers." .

Our @NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old.

Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://t.co/Tl3tsHAfYB pic.twitter.com/dGiGmEVvAW.

— NASA (@NASA) February 24, 2020.

"In her 33 years at NASA, Katherine was a pioneer who broke the barriers of race and gender, showing generations of young people that everyone can excel in math and science and reach for the stars," Obama said during the ceremony. .

The next year, Johnson was one of three black women at NASA whose story was told in the movie Hidden Figures, starring Taraji P.

Katherine Johnson outsmarted, outworked, and hustled her way into the @NASA boys club

Rest in peace, Katherine, your legacy lives on in generations of STEM women of color

Katherine Johnson broke barriers of race and gravity