(L to R) Apollo 16 Moonwalker Charlie Duke and legendary Flight Directors Gerry Griffin and Milton Windler during the Legacy of Apollo gala at the San Diego Air & Space Museum on May 31, 2025.

Apollo space exploration luminaries Charlie Duke, Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Rusty Schweickart, Gerry Griffin, Gene Kranz and Milton Windler gathered in person and via video conference to recreate and reminisce about America’s legendary Apollo space program during a spectacular evening at the San Diego Air & Space Museum during the once-in-a-lifetime special “Legacy of Apollo” gala on May 31, 2025.

Duke, Griffin and Windler all traveled to San Diego to take part in this special event in person, while Kranz, Lovell, Haise and Schweickart joined via video conferencing to give depth and meaning to the most audacious period in the annals of American space conquests, including landing men on the Moon six times during the late 1960s and early 1970s – an accomplishment no other country on Earth has yet to achieve.

This unique gathering of space legends took place in the Museum’s historic Pavilion of Flight in front of a thrilled audience of more than 250 Apollo enthusiasts.

“The Legacy of Apollo is more than just a reflection on past achievements—it is a celebration of the ongoing journey of space exploration. The lessons learned from the Apollo era continue to shape current and future missions, from NASA’s Artemis program to ambitious plans for Mars and beyond,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “By hearing directly from the pioneers who paved the way, attendees gained a deeper appreciation for the advancements which continue to build on their legacy. Their stories of resilience, ingenuity and determination serve as an inspiration to all who continue to dream of reaching for the stars.”

San Diego Air & Space Museum President Jim Kidrick served as the evening's host.

Honored speakers included:

Charlie Duke
In April 1972, Charlie Duke became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the Moon as the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 16. At 36 years and 201 days old, he remains the youngest man to set foot on the lunar surface. Prior to his own mission, Duke served as the CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) for Apollo 11’s historic first Moon landing in July 1969. After Neil Armstrong announced, “Houston, the Eagle has landed,” Duke responded with a now-famous, slightly fumbled transmission: “Roger, Twank… Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot!”

(L to R) Charlie Duke and Gerry Griffin

Gerry Griffin
Gerald D. “Gerry” Griffin was a flight director for NASA during the Apollo Program and later served as Director of Johnson Space Center, succeeding Chris Kraft in 1982. As a flight director in Mission Control, Griffin led teams on all nine crewed missions to the Moon, including six lunar landings. His “Gold” team oversaw the landings of Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17. Originally scheduled to direct Apollo 13’s landing, Griffin instead played a crucial role in the mission’s emergency response, helping guide the astronauts safely back to Earth after the explosion of an oxygen tank.

Apollo Flight Director Milton Windler

Milton Windler
Milton “Milt” Windler was a NASA Flight Director best known for his leadership during Apollo 13. One of the four key flight directors who helped bring the crippled spacecraft safely back to Earth, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role in the mission. After Apollo, Windler worked on the Space Shuttle Program, focusing on Remote Manipulator Systems operations until 1978.

Joining via video conferencing (Clockwise from upper left): Apollo 9 Lunar Module Pilot Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, Apollo Flight Director Gene Kranz and Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 Command Module Pilot and Commander of Apollo 13.

Gene Kranz
Eugene “Gene” Kranz, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, was one of NASA’s most legendary Flight Directors. He led Mission Control during the Gemini and Apollo programs, overseeing historic missions including Apollo 11 and Apollo 13. He was in charge during the Apollo 1 disaster in 1967, in which three astronauts lost their lives in a launch pad fire. That tragedy prompted what became known as the “Kranz Dictum”—a commitment to being “Tough and Competent,” a philosophy that still influences NASA operations today.

Fred Haise
Fred Haise is one of only 24 men to have ever flown to the Moon. In 1966, he was one of 19 astronauts selected for NASA Astronaut Group 5 and the first astronaut in his group to be assigned a mission, serving as backup Lunar Module Pilot for both Apollo 8 and Apollo 11. As the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 13, he was originally tasked with landing on the Moon. Instead, after an oxygen tank explosion turned the mission into a fight for survival, Haise and his crewmates worked alongside Mission Control to return safely to Earth. After Apollo, Haise played a key role in the early development of the Space Shuttle program. He piloted the Space Shuttle Enterprise in its approach and landing test flights, proving the orbiter’s ability to glide and land safely. These tests paved the way for the shuttle’s eventual operational flights.

Rusty Schweickart
Apollo 9 Lunar Module Pilot Rusty Schweickart joined NASA as one of 14 astronauts named in October 1963, the third group of astronauts. He served as lunar module pilot for Apollo 9 in March 1969, logging 241 hours in space. It was the third manned flight of the Apollo series and the first manned flight of the lunar module. For the first time in space flight history, crew-members flew in a spacecraft, the LM, designed to operate only in the vacuum of space. During a 46 minute EVA Schweickart tested the portable life support backpack which was subsequently used on the lunar surface explorations.

Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell was a veteran of the Gemini VII, Gemini XII, and Apollo 8 missions before becoming the Mission Commander for the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon. Lovell joined NASA in 1962 as part of its second group of astronauts. His first space flight was on Gemini 7 in December 1965 with Frank Borman, his future Commander on Apollo 8 when they flew together along with Bill Anders on mankind’s first mission to the Moon in December 1968. Lovell flew again on Gemini 12 with Buzz Aldrin in November 1966, the final flight of the Gemini program. In April 1970, Lovell was Commander of Apollo 13 with CMP Jack Swigert and LMP Fred W. Haise. Together, the three astronauts survived an oxygen tank explosion on their way to the Moon, and with the support from the team at Mission Control, successfully navigated their wounded Command Module “Odyssey” back to Earth.

(L to R) Museum President Jim Kidrick, Charlie Duke, Gerry Griffin and Chariman of the Board Mark Larson at the Legacy of Apollo gala at the San Diego Air & Space Museum on May 31, 2025.