HUTCHINSON, Kan. ( Dec. 15, 2016) — Saying he has a natural love for the Cosmosphere and a respect for the military, Apollo era NASA flight director and Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee, Gerry Griffin, visited the Cosmosphere on Thursday. Griffin spoke to 65 leadership members from Fort Riley and then participated with the group in the Cosmosphere’s flagship problem solving exercise, Apollo Redux, a simulation experience of a space emergency.

Griffin, told Eagle Radio Thursday afternoon that he is amazed that the military can use today what they did in the 1960’s and 70’s to help in real life missions for the Army. Lt Col. David Gardner with Ft Riley said it was a privilege to work with Griffin, and said that they will incorporate the exercise into various situations.

Griffin also took time to discuss the future of spaceflight, and said that until NASA has a firm target of where they want their next mission to go, it will be very difficult to get the SLS Orion project going full speed. Griffin says the SLS high cost will keep the program in check unless the space agency gets an infusion of both interest from the Government and public, and the funds to keep the program going.

Griffin, who played an important role in the Apollo 13 crisis, was also the Flight Director of the Apollo 12 mission, which was nearly aborted after the rocket was struck by lightning just after take off, and the Apollo 15 and 17 missions. Apollo 17 with astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and Ron Evans, was the last Apollo moon mission in December of 1972. He also served as the director of the Johnson Space Center from 1982 through 1986.