08/10/2026
๐คMargaret Hamilton 1936-2026 ๐ค
We were sad to learn of the passing of Margaret Hamilton, the computer pioneer whose software powered the first Apollo moon landing.
โFrom my own perspective, the software experience itself (designing it, developing it, evolving it, watching it perform and learning from it for future systems) was at least as exciting as the events surrounding the mission,โ she told MIT News in 2009.
โThere was no second chance. We knew that. We took our work seriously, many of us beginning this journey while still in our 20s. Coming up with solutions and new ideas was an adventure. Dedication and commitment were a given. Mutual respect was across the board. Because software was a mystery, a black box, upper management gave us total freedom and trust. We had to find a way, and we did. Looking back, we were the luckiest people in the world; there was no choice but to be pioneers.โ
She authored over 130 publications, and helped to establish software engineering as a dedicated discipline. She worked for MIT from 1959 until the mid 1970s, after which she became a successful computing entrepreneur and CEO.
Throughout her career she won many awards such as the NASA Exceptional Space Act Award for scientific and technical contributions in 2003, the Computer History Museum Fellow Award in 2017, the Intrepid Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and the induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022.
Rest in Peace Margaret. You will be an inspiration forever!
