Section 1.1: A Midwestern Upbringing

Born on August 17, 1936, in Paoli, Indiana, Margaret Elaine Heafield was raised in the Midwest alongside her two younger siblings. Her passion for mathematics led her to begin her studies at Michigan University. Eventually, she transferred to Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, where she met her future husband, James Cox Hamilton. Margaret earned her B.A. in mathematics with a philosophy minor in 1958, the same summer she married James. They later relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where James pursued a law degree at Harvard. The following year, their daughter, Lauren, was born, prompting Margaret to postpone her plans to obtain a Ph.D. in abstract mathematics at Brandeis University.

Section 1.2: The Shift to Computer Science

Margaret's life took a transformative turn in 1959 when she began working at MIT in the lab of renowned meteorologist Edward Lorenz. This was her first encounter with computers, and she quickly became engaged in programming them for weather forecasting. What initially started as a temporary role evolved into a lifelong career. Between 1961 and 1963, she transitioned to the MIT Lincoln Lab to contribute to the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) Project, developing software for the U.S. Air Force's defense system. At that time, computers filled entire warehouses and were notoriously cumbersome. Without formal education in programming, Margaret honed her skills through practical experience, becoming adept at software development.

Section 1.3: Making the Apollo Missions Possible

In 1964, Margaret seized an opportunity to join the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory (now Charles Stark Draper Laboratory) as a software developer for NASA's Apollo missions. In a field predominantly occupied by men, she was not only the first programmer but also the first woman to join the project. Her role involved working on various manned and unmanned missions, where her exceptional ability to identify and debug errors was invaluable. A memorable incident occurred when her six-year-old daughter accidentally pressed a button on a simulator, leading to a critical system failure that Margaret successfully rectified.

As the Director of the Software Engineering Division for the Apollo 11 mission, Margaret led a team responsible for creating the onboard software for both the command and lunar modules. She implemented essential fail-safe mechanisms for error detection and recovery, ensuring the astronauts' safe journey to and from the moon in 1969.

Section 1.4: Pioneering Software Engineering

"The software for the space mission had to be man-rated; it needed to work flawlessly on the first attempt. Not only must the software be ultra-reliable, but it also had to execute error detection and recovery in real-time." This period was rife with challenges, as computer science was still in its infancy, and scientists struggled to integrate software with hardware seamlessly.

Margaret recognized that software development was not receiving the respect it deserved compared to other engineering disciplines. To address this, she coined the term "Software Engineering," which is now widely recognized.

"I fought to elevate the status of software and its creators, advocating for the term 'software engineering' to differentiate it from hardware and other engineering fields while promoting an integrated systems engineering approach."

Section 1.5: An Icon for Women in Technology

In the mid-1970s, Margaret transitioned to the private sector, founding two companies: Higher Order Software and Hamilton Technology Inc., where she currently serves as CEO. Among her numerous accolades, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Her iconic 1969 photograph beside the printout of the Apollo 11 code has inspired many, further solidified by the launch of a Lego figurine honoring her contributions in 2017. Today, Margaret Hamilton stands as a beacon for women in technology, her work profoundly influencing the course of human history.

Timeline of Achievements:

• 1936: Born to Ruth Esther and Kenneth Heafield in Paoli, Indiana
• 1958: Graduated from Earlham College with a mathematics degree; married James Cox Hamilton
• 1959: Joined Edward Lorenz's lab at MIT
• 1961-1963: Contributed to the SAGE Project at MIT Lincoln Lab
• 1964: Began working on NASA's Apollo missions at MIT Instrumentation Laboratory
• 1969: Led software development for NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing
• 1976: Co-founded Higher Order Software (HOS)
• 1986: Founded Hamilton Technology Inc.
• 2016: Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama

Sources:

About the author: DR. SUMBUL JAWED KHAN

Content Editor, Women In Science, Sci-Illustrate Stories.

Dr. Khan earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering from IIT Kanpur, focusing on cancer microenvironments. Her post-doctoral research at UIUC explored gene regulatory networks for tissue regeneration. Committed to science outreach, she aims to make scientific research relatable to the public and inspire youth to engage in scientific inquiry.

About the artist: MILER XIMENA LÓPEZ

Contributing Artist, Women in Science, Sci-Illustrate Stories

Expressing myself graphically has always brought me immense joy. Through my work, I strive to positively impact others while learning and growing through each achievement.

About the series:

The contributions of remarkable women in science are often overlooked. Each month, the Sci-Illustrate team will share profiles of women who have made significant contributions to science and those currently advancing their fields.

— Dr. Radhika Patnala, Series Director