Margaret Hamilton, the software mastermind behind Apollo 11, dies at 90


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.


Hamilton with a stack of printed computer code

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.