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8 Oct 2026, 16:11

Margaret Hamilton, an American scientist and a pioneer in software engineering who played a crucial role in the landing of the first American astronauts on the moon, passed away at the age of 90. She led a team of specialists who designed and developed the software used in NASA's Apollo space missions.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) confirmed Hamilton's passing, stating that she died on Wednesday, October 8, 1405, corresponding to September 30, 2026. In a statement, the institute described Hamilton as a pioneer in computer science who played a significant role in the development of this field before the profession of software engineering became widespread.

Hamilton worked at MIT from 1959 until the mid-1970s, managing the software engineering department. The team under her leadership designed the guidance and control software for the Apollo 11 spacecraft, which played a decisive role in Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's historic landing on the moon in 1969.

During this mission, the spacecraft's computer encountered a processing overload just moments before landing, but the software designed by Hamilton's team was able to continue the landing operation by prioritizing tasks.

Barack Obama, the former President of the United States, awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 in recognition of Hamilton's scientific achievements and her role in advancing space technology.
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