PEOPLE, THIS WOMAN, WAY UP ON THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THE TOP OF THE LIST. TAKE A LOOK.
TAKE A LOOK. >> Reporter: WHEN YOU LOOK AT
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU LOOK AT OLD PHOTOS FROM THE APOLLO
OLD PHOTOS FROM THE APOLLO PROGRAM, YOU SEE A LOT OF MEN.
PROGRAM, YOU SEE A LOT OF MEN. CHECK OUT THIS SHOT.
CHECK OUT THIS SHOT. WITHOUT A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED
WITHOUT A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED MARGARET HAMILTON, THE LUNAR
MARGARET HAMILTON, THE LUNAR LANDING, WALKING ON THE MOON, IT
LANDING, WALKING ON THE MOON, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY.
STORY. >> THAT’S SOURCE CODE FOR THE
>> THAT’S SOURCE CODE FOR THE APOLLO GUIDANCE COMPUTER.
APOLLO GUIDANCE COMPUTER. >> Reporter: A 5 FOOT PILE OF
>> Reporter: A 5 FOOT PILE OF COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONS THAT SENT
COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONS THAT SENT THE CREW OF APOLLO 11 TO THE
THE CREW OF APOLLO 11 TO THE MOON, AND GOT THEM BACK.
MOON, AND GOT THEM BACK. LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT THAT. >> WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
>> WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. THEY WERE WORRIED IT WAS GOING
THEY WERE WORRIED IT WAS GOING TO FALL ON ME, BUT I LIKED THE
TO FALL ON ME, BUT I LIKED THE IDEA OF STACKING THEM UP.
IDEA OF STACKING THEM UP. >> Reporter: WRITTEN BY HAMILTON
>> Reporter: WRITTEN BY HAMILTON AND A TEAM OF SOFTWARE
AND A TEAM OF SOFTWARE PROGRAMMERS AT MIT’S
PROGRAMMERS AT MIT’S INSTRUMENTATION LAB, DEVELOPED
INSTRUMENTATION LAB, DEVELOPED WHEN MANY THOUGHT SOFTWARE WAS
WHEN MANY THOUGHT SOFTWARE WAS AN UNDERGARMENT, A PUZZLE, IT
AN UNDERGARMENT, A PUZZLE, IT SEEMS, EVEN TO ASTRONAUTS, LIKE
SEEMS, EVEN TO ASTRONAUTS, LIKE MIKE COLLINS.
MIKE COLLINS. HAD YOU EVER HEARD THE WORD
HAD YOU EVER HEARD THE WORD "SOFTWARE" BEFORE?
"SOFTWARE" BEFORE? >> I DON’T THINK SO.
>> I DON’T THINK SO. MIT WAS A MYSTERY TO A LARGE
MIT WAS A MYSTERY TO A LARGE EXTENT.
EXTENT. >> Reporter: HAMILTON’S HUSBAND
>> Reporter: HAMILTON’S HUSBAND WAS STUDYING LAW AT HARVARD.
WAS STUDYING LAW AT HARVARD. SHE WAS A MOM WITH A MATH
SHE WAS A MOM WITH A MATH DEGREE, WHO BOLDLY PURSUED A JOB
DEGREE, WHO BOLDLY PURSUED A JOB AT MIT.
AT MIT. AT THE TIME, ALMOST UNHEARD OF.
AT THE TIME, ALMOST UNHEARD OF. WERE PEOPLE JUDGMENTAL ABOUT YOU
WERE PEOPLE JUDGMENTAL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE?
AND YOUR LIFE? >> IT WAS THE CULTURE.
>> IT WAS THE CULTURE. ONE OF THE MEN WALKED UP AND
ONE OF THE MEN WALKED UP AND ASKED ME, HOW COULD I LEAVE MY
ASKED ME, HOW COULD I LEAVE MY CHILD AT HOME?
CHILD AT HOME? THAT’S WHEN I SAID TO HIM, YOU
THAT’S WHEN I SAID TO HIM, YOU DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU, AND
DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU, AND I’LL DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR ME.
I’LL DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR ME. >> Reporter: HER CODE WOULD BE
>> Reporter: HER CODE WOULD BE HOUSED IN A COMPUTER ASTONISH
HOUSED IN A COMPUTER ASTONISH ASTONISHINGLY SMALL.
ASTONISHINGLY SMALL. THIS IS THE ACTUAL
THIS IS THE ACTUAL COMPUTER?
COMPUTER? >> IT IS A SHOE BOX, WEDDING
>> IT IS A SHOE BOX, WEDDING CAKE TYPE THING, BACK HERE.
CAKE TYPE THING, BACK HERE. >> Reporter: AT AN ERA WHEN
>> Reporter: AT AN ERA WHEN COMPUTERS TOOK UP ENTIRE
COMPUTERS TOOK UP ENTIRE BASEMENTS, APOLLO 11’S COULD BE
BASEMENTS, APOLLO 11’S COULD BE ONLY A FOOT.
ONLY A FOOT. IT’D BE THE FIRST TO GUIDE A
IT’D BE THE FIRST TO GUIDE A HUMAN ANYWHERE, THIS TO THE
HUMAN ANYWHERE, THIS TO THE MOON.
MOON. >> IT’D BE A FRACTION OF YOUR
>> IT’D BE A FRACTION OF YOUR PHONE’S PROCESSING POWER.
PHONE’S PROCESSING POWER. >> Reporter: HAMILTON OFTEN
>> Reporter: HAMILTON OFTEN BROUGHT HER DAUGHTER, LAUREN, TO
BROUGHT HER DAUGHTER, LAUREN, TO WORK, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT OR ON
WORK, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT OR ON WEEKENDS.
WEEKENDS. IT WAS DURING ONE SUCH VISIT
IT WAS DURING ONE SUCH VISIT THAT LAUREN WAS PLAYING
THAT LAUREN WAS PLAYING ASTRONAUT ON THE APOLLO
ASTRONAUT ON THE APOLLO SIMULATOR, FLYING TO THE MOON,
SIMULATOR, FLYING TO THE MOON, WHEN --
WHEN -- >> ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CAME
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CAME CRASHING DOWN, HER SIMULATION.
CRASHING DOWN, HER SIMULATION. >> Reporter: THE SYSTEM CRASHED.
>> Reporter: THE SYSTEM CRASHED. >> I THOUGHT, WHATEVER SHE’S
>> I THOUGHT, WHATEVER SHE’S DONE, THAT CAN’T HAPPEN ON A
DONE, THAT CAN’T HAPPEN ON A FLIGHT.
FLIGHT. THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD.
THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD. IT WAS PROGRAM ONE, WHICH IS A
IT WAS PROGRAM ONE, WHICH IS A PRE-LAUNCH PROGRAM.
PRE-LAUNCH PROGRAM. >> Reporter: SHE’S OUT IN OUTER
>> Reporter: SHE’S OUT IN OUTER SPACE AND HIT THE KEYS FOR
SPACE AND HIT THE KEYS FOR PRE-LAUNCH.
PRE-LAUNCH. >> IT CLOBBERED EVERYTHING.
>> IT CLOBBERED EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: HAMILTON TRIED TO
>> Reporter: HAMILTON TRIED TO WARN NASA BUT --
WARN NASA BUT -- >> THEY SAID, YEAH, BUT THE
>> THEY SAID, YEAH, BUT THE ASTRONAUTS ARE SO WELL TRAINED,
ASTRONAUTS ARE SO WELL TRAINED, IT WON’T HAPPEN.
IT WON’T HAPPEN. IT JUST WON’T HAPPEN.
IT JUST WON’T HAPPEN. >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, WHILE
>> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, WHILE IN SPACE, ON APOLLO 8, ASTRONAUT
IN SPACE, ON APOLLO 8, ASTRONAUT JIM LOVELL ACCIDENTALLY PUNCHED
JIM LOVELL ACCIDENTALLY PUNCHED IN THE SAME CODE.
IN THE SAME CODE. >> FOR SOME REASON, THERE IS NO
>> FOR SOME REASON, THERE IS NO ALTITUDE LIGHT ON THE COMPUTER.
ALTITUDE LIGHT ON THE COMPUTER. >> Reporter: IT TOOK HOURS TO
>> Reporter: IT TOOK HOURS TO GET THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM BACK
GET THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM BACK ON TRACK.
ON TRACK. HAMILTON AND THE TEAM AT MIT
HAMILTON AND THE TEAM AT MIT KNEW THE ASTRONAUTS WERE RISKING
KNEW THE ASTRONAUTS WERE RISKING THEIR LIVES ON THE SOFTWARE THEY
THEIR LIVES ON THE SOFTWARE THEY WROTE.
WROTE. >> AT THE TIME, A MAN’S LIFE WAS
>> AT THE TIME, A MAN’S LIFE WAS AT STAKE.
AT STAKE. THE SOFTWARE HAD TO WORK THE
THE SOFTWARE HAD TO WORK THE FIRST TIME.
FIRST TIME. THERE WAS NO SECOND CHANCE.
THERE WAS NO SECOND CHANCE. IT ALSO HAD TO BE ABLE TO DETECT
IT ALSO HAD TO BE ABLE TO DETECT ERRORS IN REAL TIME AND RECOVER
ERRORS IN REAL TIME AND RECOVER FROM THEM.
FROM THEM. >> Reporter: HAMILTON’S SOFTWARE
>> Reporter: HAMILTON’S SOFTWARE WAS PUT TO THE TEST IN JUST THAT
WAS PUT TO THE TEST IN JUST THAT WAY ON APOLLO 11.
WAY ON APOLLO 11. NEIL ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ ALDRIN
NEIL ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ ALDRIN FOR DESCENDING TO THE MOON’S
FOR DESCENDING TO THE MOON’S SURFACE WHEN --
SURFACE WHEN -- >> PROGRAM ALARM.
>> PROGRAM ALARM. >> THEY SEE AN ALARM, AND BUZZ
>> THEY SEE AN ALARM, AND BUZZ ALDRIN CALLS IT OUT.
ALDRIN CALLS IT OUT. >> I REMEMBER THINKING, IF IT IS
>> I REMEMBER THINKING, IF IT IS GOING TO GO OFF, DOES IT HAVE TO
GOING TO GO OFF, DOES IT HAVE TO GO OFF NOW, OF ALL TIMES?
GO OFF NOW, OF ALL TIMES? >> Reporter: THE ALARM WENT OFF
>> Reporter: THE ALARM WENT OFF BECAUSE NON-CRITICAL DATA WAS
BECAUSE NON-CRITICAL DATA WAS SUDDENLY OVERLOADING THE
SUDDENLY OVERLOADING THE COMPUTER.
COMPUTER. >> NOW, THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE
>> NOW, THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE MARGARET HAMILTON, THE COMPUTER
MARGARET HAMILTON, THE COMPUTER REALIZED, I’LL DROP MY LOW
REALIZED, I’LL DROP MY LOW PRIORITY STUFF AND KEEP THE
PRIORITY STUFF AND KEEP THE IMPORTANT STUFF GOING.
IMPORTANT STUFF GOING. I’LL SOLDIER ON.
I’LL SOLDIER ON. THE WHOLE SYSTEM RECOVERED FROM
THE WHOLE SYSTEM RECOVERED FROM THAT ANOMALY, AND ARMSTRONG
THAT ANOMALY, AND ARMSTRONG LANDED ON THE MOON.
LANDED ON THE MOON. >> THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.
>> THE EAGLE HAS LANDED. >> Reporter: NEIL ARMSTRONG
>> Reporter: NEIL ARMSTRONG STEPS OUT OF THE MODULE, STEPS A
STEPS OUT OF THE MODULE, STEPS A FOOT ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.
FOOT ON THE LUNAR SURFACE. WHAT WERE YOU FEELING AT THAT
WHAT WERE YOU FEELING AT THAT EXACT MOMENT?
EXACT MOMENT? >> NOT ONLY WAS IT THAT THE
>> NOT ONLY WAS IT THAT THE ASTRONAUTS WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE
ASTRONAUTS WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE ON THE MOON.
ON THE MOON. >> THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR
>> THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN.
MAN. >> BUT IT WAS LIKE OUR SOFTWARE
>> BUT IT WAS LIKE OUR SOFTWARE WAS THE FIRST SOFTWARE TO RUN ON
WAS THE FIRST SOFTWARE TO RUN ON THE MOON.
THE MOON. >> ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.
>> ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND. >> I JUST FELT FORTUNATE.
>> I JUST FELT FORTUNATE. >> AMAZING WOMAN.
>> AMAZING WOMAN. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF THIS TIME, RIGHT IN
CONTEXT OF THIS TIME, RIGHT IN HER HUSBAND IS AT HARVARD LAW
HER HUSBAND IS AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.
SCHOOL. DURING THAT ERA, IT WAS ALMOST
DURING THAT ERA, IT WAS ALMOST AN EXPECTATION THAT IF YOU HAD A
AN EXPECTATION THAT IF YOU HAD A SPOUSE WITH YOU IN CAMBRIDGE,
SPOUSE WITH YOU IN CAMBRIDGE, SHE WAS THERE TO SERVE TEA.
SHE WAS THERE TO SERVE TEA. SHE WAS THERE TO AIDE YOU IN
SHE WAS THERE TO AIDE YOU IN YOUR ONGOING LIFE.
YOUR ONGOING LIFE. >> IF YOU HAD KIDS, SOMEBODY
>> IF YOU HAD KIDS, SOMEBODY SAYING, WHY AREN’T YOU HOME WITH
SAYING, WHY AREN’T YOU HOME WITH YOUR CHILD?
YOUR CHILD? >> A MOM WITH A MATH DEGREE.
>> A MOM WITH A MATH DEGREE. BUT SHE SAID THE ATMOSPHERE AT
BUT SHE SAID THE ATMOSPHERE AT MIT WAS VERY COLLEGIAL, AND THEY
MIT WAS VERY COLLEGIAL, AND THEY ALL HAD THIS IDEA THAT THEY WERE
ALL HAD THIS IDEA THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY PIONEERS.
ACTUALLY PIONEERS. THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING NO ONE
THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING NO ONE HAD DONE BEFORE.
HAD DONE BEFORE. THE COMPUTERS FILLED THE
THE COMPUTERS FILLED THE BASEMENT, THE BUILDINGS BACK
BASEMENT, THE BUILDINGS BACK THEN.
THEN. THESE WERE THE FIRST MOBILE
THESE WERE THE FIRST MOBILE COMPUTERS EVER DESIGNED.
COMPUTERS EVER DESIGNED. >> YOU BROUGHT SHOW AND TELL.
>> YOU BROUGHT SHOW AND TELL. >> YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS.
>> YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS. RIGHT?
RIGHT? SO PEOPLE IN HISTORY GET TO BE
SO PEOPLE IN HISTORY GET TO BE HONORED SOMETIMES IN SOME OF THE
HONORED SOMETIMES IN SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING WAYS.
MOST AMAZING WAYS. IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY, LEGO
IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY, LEGO RAN ONE OF THOSE SORT OF, HEY,
RAN ONE OF THOSE SORT OF, HEY, TELL US WHO WE SHOULD PAY
TELL US WHO WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO WITH APOLLO COMING
ATTENTION TO WITH APOLLO COMING UP.
UP. THERE’S MARGARET.
THERE’S MARGARET. >> WOW!
>> WOW! >> THAT’S AWESOME.
>> THAT’S AWESOME. >> OVERDUE, RIGHT?
>> OVERDUE, RIGHT? >> WHAT’S SHE DOING NOW?
>> WHAT’S SHE DOING NOW? >> SHE HAS HER OWN BUSINESS.
>> SHE HAS HER OWN BUSINESS. LISTEN, SHE WENT --
LISTEN, SHE WENT -- >> RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
>> RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. >> SHE WENT TO WORK IN
>> SHE WENT TO WORK IN CAMBRIDGE.
CAMBRIDGE. SHE STARTED WORKING FIRST IN
SHE STARTED WORKING FIRST IN METEOROLOGICAL STUFF, THEN ON
METEOROLOGICAL STUFF, THEN ON SOME DEFENSE STUFF.
SOME DEFENSE STUFF. SHE WAS IN THIS INFANCY OF THIS
SHE WAS IN THIS INFANCY OF THIS INDUSTRY.
INDUSTRY. HEARD ABOUT THE JOB OPENING AT
HEARD ABOUT THE JOB OPENING AT MIT AND NASA.
MIT AND NASA. THEY MADE HER THE HEAD OF THAT
THEY MADE HER THE HEAD OF THAT PROGRAM.
PROGRAM. >> WELL DESERVED.
>> WELL DESERVED. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY THAT PUT MAN
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY THAT PUT MAN ON THE MOON.
ON THE MOON. >> DING, DING, DING, DING.
>> DING, DING, DING, DING. THIS CELL PHONE, THE ONE I HOLD
THIS CELL PHONE, THE ONE I HOLD IN MY HAND, 1 MILLION TIMES MORE
IN MY HAND, 1 MILLION TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN THE COMPUTERS, THE
POWERFUL THAN THE COMPUTERS, THE ONE ON THE MODULE, THE LANDING
ONE ON THE MODULE, THE LANDING MODULE, AND THE COMMAND COD MULE
MODULE, AND THE COMMAND COD MULE A MILLION TIMES MORE POWERFUL.
A MILLION TIMES MORE POWERFUL. >> INCREDIBLE.
>> INCREDIBLE. WE’RE GOING TO REALLY SOAK IN
WE’RE GOING TO REALLY SOAK IN THIS ANNIVERSARY THE NEXT FEW
THIS ANNIVERSARY THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
DAYS. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT MORE
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT MORE STORIES TO TELL, HARRY,
STORIES TO TELL, HARRY, INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE SUIT
INCLUDING A LOOK AT THE SUIT THAT HELPED NEIL ARMSTRONG TAKE
THAT HELPED NEIL ARMSTRONG TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS.
THOSE FIRST STEPS. AL IS GOING TO BE LIVE AT
AL IS GOING TO BE LIVE AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEXT
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEXT TUESDAY FOR THE OFFICIAL
TUESDAY FOR THE OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY.
ANNIVERSARY. >> OH, THAT’S GOING TO BE GOOD.
>> OH, THAT’S GOING TO BE GOOD. >> LAUNCH DAY.
>> LAUNCH DAY. ONE OF OUR PROUDEST MOMENTS.
ONE OF OUR PROUDEST MOMENTS. >> YOU’LL BE GEEKING OUT DOWN IN
>> YOU’LL BE GEEKING OUT DOWN IN FLORIDA, FOR SURE.
FLORIDA, FOR SURE. >> OH, YES.
