Samuel Kurtz Hoffman

Samuel Kurtz Hoffman
Hoffman in 1958
Born15 April 1902
Died26 June 1995(1995-06-26) (aged 93)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPennsylvania State University
Known forrocket propulsion

Samuel Kurtz Hoffman (15 April 1902 – 26 June 1995) was an American engineer who specialised in rocket propulsion.[1]

He served as chief engineer at engine manufacturing firm Lycoming Engines and later became professor of aerospace engineering at Pennsylvania State University, his alma mater.[1]

While leading a team at North American Aviation (which later became Rocketdyne) between 1949 and 1970 he developed the F-1 engines that would power the Saturn V rocket, and later worked on the Space Shuttle Main Engine.[2][3]

  1. ^ a b Kraemer, Robert S. (2006). Rocketdyne: Powering Humans Into Space. AIAA. ISBN 9781563477546.
  2. ^ Gruntman, Mike (2004). Blazing the Trail: The Early History of Spacecraft and Rocketry. AIAA. ISBN 9781563477058.
  3. ^ Hunley, J. D. (2013-03-15). The Development of Propulsion Technology for U.S. Space-Launch Vehicles, 1926-1991. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 9781603449878.