Margaret Hamilton, Pioneer of Apollo Flight Software, Dies at 90
Margaret Hamilton, the computer scientist who led the team that developed NASA's Apollo program's onboard flight software, has died at 90.
Raleigh Durham, NC, October 9, 2026 — Margaret Hamilton, a pioneering computer scientist whose work was instrumental in the success of NASA’s Apollo missions, has died at the age of 90.
Hamilton led the software engineering division at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, where her team developed the complex onboard flight software for the Apollo spacecraft. This critical technology guided the lunar modules to the moon and enabled the astronauts’ safe return to Earth.
Her contributions to software engineering were groundbreaking. Hamilton is credited with coining the term “software engineering” and establishing many of its foundational principles. Her foresight and rigorous approach to software development were vital during a time when software was a relatively new and evolving field. The software developed under her leadership was essential for the precise calculations and real-time decision-making required for spaceflight, including navigating complex maneuvers during lunar landings.
The Apollo program, which ran from 1961 to 1972, was a series of human spaceflight missions undertaken by the United States to land the first humans on the Moon. Margaret Hamilton’s team played a central role in ensuring the technological capabilities that made these historic achievements possible.
Hamilton’s career extended beyond Apollo. She founded and led several software companies, continuing to innovate in areas such as distributed computing, command and control systems, and artificial intelligence. Her work has had a lasting impact on the field of computer science and its applications in critical systems.
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