From MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology · · 2m
Margaret Hamilton Dies at 90
Margaret Hamilton, Apollo software pioneer, dies at 90 after shaping lunar missions.
In brief
Margaret Hamilton, Apollo software pioneer, dies at 90 after shaping lunar missions. Margaret Hamilton, who led NASA's Apollo software team, died at 90 after pioneering software engineering. Originally reported by MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Margaret Hamilton dies
Margaret Hamilton, a computing pioneer who led software development for NASA's Apollo program, died on Sep. 30 at age 90.
Apollo software pioneer
Hamilton helped establish software engineering as a dedicated discipline with over 130 publications.
MIT career
Hamilton worked at MIT from 1959 until the mid-1970s, after which she became a successful computing entrepreneur.
Apollo program role
Hamilton led the software engineering team for NASA's Apollo program, including the Lunar Module and Command and Service Module.
Presidential Medal
Hamilton received the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Apollo 11 success
Hamilton's priority-driven software enabled Apollo 11 to land on the moon despite a critical computer error.
Defensive programming
Hamilton created defensive programming techniques to prevent errors like the Apollo 8 P01 launch incident.
Lunar landing
Hamilton's software engineering team worked on Apollo missions from 1961 to 1970, including the moon landing.
Software legacy
Hamilton founded two software companies, Higher Order Software in 1976 and Hamilton Technologies in 1986.
Awards and recognition
Hamilton received the NASA Exceptional Space Act Award in 2003 and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022.
Lego tribute
In 2017, Lego released a Women of NASA set featuring Hamilton as an official minifigure.
Family and legacy
Hamilton is survived by her daughter Lauren, son-in-law Richard Selesnick, two grandsons, and four great grandchildren.
Memorial service
A memorial service for Hamilton will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the spring.
Software engineering impact
Hamilton's work established software engineering as a discipline, prioritizing error prevention and defensive programming.
Final legacy
Hamilton's software engineering legacy continues through NASA, MIT, and the global software industry.
The short version
Margaret Hamilton, who led NASA's Apollo software team, died at 90 after pioneering software engineering.
