Margaret Hamilton, whose software helped land Apollo 11 on the Moon, dies at 90

Margaret Hamilton, the computer scientist who played a crucial role in the successful Apollo 11 Moon landing, has passed away at the age of 90. MIT confirmed her death, which occurred on September 30, 2021. As the head of the Software Engineering Division at MIT, Hamilton led a team responsible for developing the software that guided Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to safely land on the Moon.

Hamilton's pioneering work in software engineering was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2016 when he awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Obama highlighted Hamilton's contributions to science and space travel, calling her an embodiment of the unsung women of her generation who helped propel humanity into space.

Born in Indiana in 1936, Hamilton originally pursued a degree in mathematics at the University of Michigan before transferring to Earlham College, where she earned her BA in mathematics in 1958. After marrying and having children, Hamilton returned to MIT in the 1970s, using her expertise to establish her own software businesses, including Hamilton Technologies, which remains based in Massachusetts.

MIT mourned the loss of this trailblazer, praising her extraordinary achievements and inspiring future generations of students. Hamilton is survived by her daughter, son-in-law, two grandsons, and four great-grandchildren.