Margaret Hamilton, the American scientist renowned for her leadership in developing the computer software that powered NASA’s Apollo lunar missions, has died at the age of 90, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Hamilton passed away on September 30, the institution announced.

Hamilton was a pioneering figure in the early days of software engineering, a field that was just taking shape during her career. She joined MIT in 1959 and remained there through the mid-1970s, during which time she played a crucial role in the Apollo program — the U.S. space effort that ultimately succeeded in landing astronauts on the moon and surpassing Soviet efforts in the space race.

Olivier de Weck, the Apollo Program Professor and interim head of MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, described Hamilton as “a computing pioneer” who was not only ahead of her time but also instrumental in advancing software development. He highlighted her leadership in creating highly complex code that enabled one of the most sophisticated systems ever built by humanity at that point.

Hamilton was notably the first programmer hired for the Apollo project at MIT and the first female programmer involved in the initiative, breaking gender barriers in a predominantly male-dominated field. Her work was essential to ensuring the reliability and success of the spacecraft’s onboard computer systems during the critical lunar missions.

NASA chief Jared Isaacmen also paid tribute to Hamilton on the social media platform X, recognizing her as a trailblazer whose contributions made the Apollo missions and humanity’s initial journeys to the moon possible.

Hamilton’s legacy endures not only in the history of space exploration but also in the evolution of software engineering as a discipline, where her innovative approach helped shape modern computing practices.