In brief
Margaret Hamilton, the computer scientist whose software guided Apollo 11’s lunar landing, has died at age 90. She pioneered the field of software engineering, ensuring the mission’s success when the onboard computer warned of an overload during descent. Hamilton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and was celebrated for her role in advancing women’s presence in technology. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers.
The pioneering computer scientist whose software guided Apollo 11’s lunar landing has passed away at the age of 90.
Hamilton, a trailblazer whose team pioneered the term "software engineering", developed the onboard software that kept NASA’s first lunar module in life during its descent.
She was born in Indiana in 1936 and earned her B.A. in mathematics from Earlham College before joining MIT’s Software Engineering Division in 1959.
The team’s "priority‑driven" programming saved the historic mission when the Apollo 11 computer reported an overload just seconds before the moon landing.
In 2016 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama, who praised her for symbolising the unsung women who helped send humanity into space.
She continues to inspire new generations with her legacy; her approach to computer safety and reliability is studied worldwide.
Hamilton was survived by her daughter, a son‑in‑law, two grandsons, and four great‑grandchildren.
