posted 07-23-2019 09:24 PM               

Former Chief Flight Directors are reflecting on the life and lessons they learned from Chris Kraft, also known as "Red Flight."

Chris Kraft was the "inventor and visionary" of Mission Control leading up to Alan Shepard's sub-orbital flight in May of 1961. He was a leader in a time when they were making it up along the way. The operational concepts developed back then are the "backbone" of Mission Control today. His legacy lives on! Be prepared, know your stuff and make it happen! God speed "Red Flight!"
— Milt Heflin, former Chief Flight Director

Chris was the true leader of human spaceflight operations and always seemed to know just what needed to be done. He set the standards bar for those of us who would become the Chief of the Flight Director Office as well as all of those who lived, breathed, and worked in mission operations. Today, the light of our world and universe has dimmed a little.
- Lee Briscoe, former Chief Flight Director

Dr. Kraft's passing is an enormous loss to NASA and to the nation. He was a crucial influence in our country's early human spaceflight program and we owe him a great deal of credit for its success. He was a profoundly capable and respected leader, passionate, committed, and extremely competent. Even after he retired, he inspired and mentored NASA's leaders across the agency. He defined and embodied the spirit of Mision Control and our flight control teams, and what it meant to be a Flight Director. As a beloved member of our community he will be deeply missed.
- Phil Engelauf, former Chief Flight Director

America's debt to Chris Kraft for his contribution to achieving the Moon is huge. His legacy lives in the hearts and minds of all who came after him, including those who every day support Mission Control even today for the International Space Station. We consider ourselves blessed to have walked even a little in his shoes and blessed to have known and worked for this truly great man. We will miss his insight and his confidence in us, and we will ever strive to meet his high expectations for us. His influence and insights will be deeply missed.
- Jeff Hanley, former Chief Flight Director