The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the Moon

“After the moon landings... practically no one knew about the computer and software engineers who had played such a crucial role” writes Maurer (Destination Moon) in this corrective work—a biography of mathematician Margaret Hamilton (b. 1936), who led the team that coded automated functions into the “guidance and control system that would tell the astronauts where they were.” Three sections span Hamilton’s Michigan upbringing, schooling, and marriage; her being hired by MIT to help code the “revolutionary machine that would conduct astronauts to the Moon and back”; and her later involvement with the Apollo program and beyond. Throughout, the book outlines her pivotal role in naming and legitimizing the field of software engineering while opening the door for women in STEM fields. Occasional interstitials (“Katherine Johnson,” “Ada, Countess of Lovelace”) contextualize aspects of Hamilton’s life, and photographs and pop culture references elaborate on the era for contemporary readers. Detailing the beginnings of software engineering, the ins and outs of the Apollo missions, and the social arc away from the “men only” establishment, this straightforward read credits a female pioneer whose work brought a concept to life. Ages 10–14. (Mar.)