Sheldon “Bud” Smith
Sheldon (Bud) Smith embarked on his aerospace engineering career in 1968, following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Alabama A&M. Bud was a pioneering figure in rocket plume modeling, with a career spanning over 58 years. He contributed to major aerospace programs from the Apollo-era Saturn rockets through the Space Shuttle and into modern systems like the Space Launch System and Artemis missions. His work focused on predicting how rocket plumes affect vehicles and launch environments, helping design safer rockets, spacecraft, and launch facilities.
Following Bud’s passing in April 2026, his family established this fund to honor his love of space by helping young dreamers attend Space Camp and pursue their passion for science and exploration.