{{short description|American test pilot and aerospace engineer (1933–2012)}} {{More footnotes needed|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam T. Beddingfield | image = Sam T. Beddingfield.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = Beddingfield in 2009 in Titusville, Florida | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|10|28}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20130130105534/http://www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Samuel-T.-Beddingfield1662050590/ Sam Beddingfield obituary]</ref> | birth_place = Clayton, North Carolina, United States | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|6|13|1933|10|28}}<ref>Gunnerson, Scott "Space pioneer Sam Beddingfield dies" (June 13, 2012) ''Florida Today''</ref> | death_place = Titusville, Florida | education = North Carolina State University | alma_mater = | occupation = Test pilot and NASA employee }} '''Samuel T. Beddingfield''' (October 28, 1933 – June 13, 2012) was an American test pilot and a pioneering aerospace engineer and who had a long career with NASA during its crewed space programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012306140038&nclick_check=1|title=Space pioneer's career spanned history of NASA|publisher=Florida Today|date=June 14, 2012}}</ref>
==Biography== Beddingfield was born in Clayton, North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orlandosentinel/obituary.aspx?n=samuel-t-beddingfield&pid=158030921 ''Orlando Sentinel''] Samuel Beddingfield Obituary Notice. Retrieved June 14, 2012.</ref> He graduated in 1956 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
===Aerospace career=== Beddingfield went to work for the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to conduct flight tests in redesigned airplanes. After three-and-a-half years of aircraft testing, he left to work for NASA in its fledgling crewed space program in 1959. Gus Grissom, one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, had done flight testing with Beddingfield at Wright-Patterson, and talked him into going to NASA. His first job was at Cape Canaveral, Florida helping to get Project Mercury started, serving as the mechanical engineer.
At this time, NASA had 33 employees and five people on contract at the Cape. Beddingfield was involved in preparing for and launching the two Mercury-Redstone missions and the four Mercury-Atlas missions from 1959 to 1963. Before completion of the Mercury program, Beddingfield was engaged in planning the Gemini program and to some extent, the early planning for Apollo. He was one of few who worked on all three crewed space programs at the same time.
After the safe return of the first Apollo Moon-landing mission (Apollo 11), Beddingfield was assigned to the Space Shuttle program in August 1969. He was the first NASA Kennedy Space Center employee assigned to the program and worked on the shuttle in a number of progressively responsible positions through its first 23 flights. One of the responsibilities assigned to him was selecting the location of the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) and the design of the runway. He retired from NASA as the deputy director of shuttle operations in November 1985.
===Retirement and death===
In retirement Beddingfield was an advocate for the space program and was a frequent commentator on local and national TV during shuttle launches. He also contributed to many space history initiatives by NASA or private entities. He served as president of the Florida chapter of the NASA Alumni League from 1994–1996.
He volunteered his time to the US Space Walk of Fame Foundation and served on its board of directors after its inception. He was also a lifetime member of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association and served on its board. He also volunteered weekly at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum.
Beddingfield died on June 13, 2012, in Titusville, Florida at age 78.
==Recognition== During his 26-year NASA career, he received numerous forms of recognition for his service. Among them was the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for both the Apollo and the Shuttle programs. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 from the Florida Committee of the National Space Club.
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==References== * {{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/lifetime_award.html|title=National Space Club's 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award|work=NASA}} * {{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4009/v1app2.htm|title=Special Committee on Space Technology (Stever Committee)|work=NASA|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017050127/https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4009/v1app2.htm|archivedate=2012-10-17}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.spacewalkoffame.com/members.html|title=US Space Walk of Fame|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330062010/http://spacewalkoffame.com/members.html|archivedate=2009-03-30}} * {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/26/us/doubts-remain-about-shuttle-as-launching-nears.html?pagewanted=2|title=Doubts Remain About Shuttle as Launching Nears|work=The New York Times | first=William J. | last=Broad | date=1988-09-26 | accessdate=2010-05-23}} * {{cite web|url=http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=244197&|title=NASA to add more 'voices' to panel|work=Florida Today|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007080711/http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=244197&|archivedate=2009-10-07}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.ispyspace.com/Gus_Grissom.html |title=Astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom |first=Sam T. |last=Beddingfield |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328165714/http://www.ispyspace.com/Gus_Grissom.html |archive-date=28 March 2013}} * [https://www.amazon.com/review/R2Y0F3NDVAYPTF ''In the Shadow of the Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility'', 1965-1969 (Amazon customer review)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beddingfield, Sam T.}} Category:1933 births Category:2012 deaths Category:American test pilots Category:Aviators from North Carolina Category:NASA engineers Category:North Carolina State University alumni Category:People from Clayton, North Carolina Category:People from Titusville, Florida