Hamilton led the development of flight programs and computer systems for the Apollo missions and other lunar missions. Her work involved the software needed to support the program’s flight operations.
Her contribution is also linked to the establishment of software engineering as a discipline. According to accounts provided by EL PAÍS and Clarín, Hamilton helped popularize the expression “software engineering.”
Her work took place in the context of software development for the Apollo program, for which sources describe her as a U.S. pioneer in computer science applied to lunar missions.
The Hindu reports that Jared Isaacmen, identified as the head of NASA, paid tribute to Hamilton by calling her a pioneer and saying that her work helped make Apollo and humanity’s first journeys to the Moon possible.
Clarín also reports that Hamilton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
The four publications agree on Hamilton’s age of 90 and her role in developing software for Apollo. The information provided does not specify either the place or the cause of her death.