Margaret Hamilton, American computer scientist and one of the most important figures in software engineering history, has died at the age of 90. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) confirmed that Hamilton passed away on September 30th 2026.
Hamilton became known worldwide for her role in NASA's Apollo programme. At MlT, she led the team that developed flight software for Apollo missions, technology that helped astronauts reach and land on the moon.
She joined the Apollo project in the 1960s, at a time when computer programming was still a new field. Hamilton was the first programmer employed for the Apollo project at MlT and later led a large team of engineers working on the ship's software.
One of its most important contributions was seen during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The ship's computer faced a heavy load as it descended toward the moon's surface. The software designed by Hamilton's team was designed to prioritize the most important tasks and avoid the suspension of the mission. This helped to keep the historical landing successful.
Hamilton also played an important role in creating and popularising the term “software engineering”, arguing that software development should be treated with the same seriousness as other engineering disciplines.
For her contributions, Hamilton received many awards in his career. In 2016, President Barack Obama gave it to her Presidential Medal of FreedomOne of the highest civil honours in the United States.
Margaret Hamilton's legacy continues to be important to modern technology. Her work on reliable software and preventing mistakes affected the way complex computer systems are developed today.
