Margaret Hamilton, a pioneering figure in software engineering whose work was instrumental in landing NASA’s Apollo astronauts on the moon, has died at the age of 90. Hamilton, who authored over 130 publications, helped establish software engineering as a dedicated discipline during her tenure at MIT from 1959 until the mid-1970s. Her contributions to the Apollo program, including the development of critical software architecture, were recognized with the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, who cited her for ‘defining new forms of software engineering and helping launch an industry that would forever change human history.’ Hamilton’s software played a pivotal role in the success of the Apollo missions, enabling the complex systems required for lunar exploration. After her time at MIT, she became a successful computing entrepreneur and CEO, continuing to innovate in systems software while mentoring and inspiring countless individuals. Olivier de Weck, the Apollo Program Professor and interim head of the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, praised Hamilton as a fundamental contributor to the Apollo program’s success, noting that she was a software engineer at a time when the field was in its infancy. Her work not only advanced the Apollo program but also laid the groundwork for the modern software industry. Hamilton’s legacy continues to influence technology and engineering fields worldwide, cementing her place as a key figure in the history of computing and space exploration.