GoKawiilMargaret Hamilton, Apollo flight software pioneer, dies at 90
Margaret Hamilton, who coined the term 'software engineering' and led development of NASA's Apollo on-board flight software in the 1960s, has died at age 90. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and was later depicted as a LEGO minifig in the 'Women of NASA' set alongside astronauts Mae Jemison and Sally Ride.
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Hamilton's work on Apollo guidance software helped establish software engineering as a rigorous discipline at a time when the field barely existed, according to MIT's Olivier de Weck. Her career illustrates how early coding practices under extreme reliability demands shaped methods still used in mission-critical systems today.
- Margaret Hamilton, Apollo flight software lead, died last week at 90.
- She coined the term 'software engineering' and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
- She was honored as a LEGO minifig in the 2017 'Women of NASA' set.
LEGO Women of NASA Set — This set immortalizes Margaret Hamilton alongside Sally Ride and Mae Jemison, celebrating the women who shaped space exploration. It's a fitting tribute for anyone inspired by her pioneering software work on Apollo 11 and a fun build for space and history enthusiasts alike.
See LEGO Women of NASA Set on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-10-08
Published there as: “R.I.P. Margaret Hamilton, whose code saved the Apollo 11 Moon landing”
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