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NASA’s first software engineer: Margaret Hamilton - Matt Porter and Margaret Hamilton

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TEDEd Animation

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The Apollo 11 moon landing was about the astronauts, mission control, software and hardware all working together as a seamless integrated system. None of which would have been possible without the contributions of one engineer: Margaret Hamilton. Who was this pioneer? Matt Porter and Margaret Hamilton detail how a woman and her team launched the software that took mankind to the Moon.

Margaret’s computer software had to be __________, meaning the software’s more important jobs could interrupt less important ones.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Matt Porter
  • Director Franco Barroeta Fonseca
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist José Ali Sánchez
  • Animator José Ali Sánchez, Vidal Barrera, Santiago Carreto, César García, Irma Arellano, Ricardo González, Daniela Leal
  • Compositor Julián André, Blas Cernicchiaro
  • Art Director Carolina Porrero , José Ali Sánchez
  • Sound Designer Julián André
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Iseult Gillespie
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
  • Collaborator Susan Norton

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