Gilruth was inducted into the National Space Hall of Fame in 1969 and served as director of the MSC until his retirement in 1972. He was inducted as a member of the inaugural class to the International Space Hall of Fame in 1976. He oversaw a total of 25 crewed space flights, from Mercury-Redstone 3 to Apollo 15.

In 1971, Gilruth, along with the Apollo 15 crew, was awarded the Collier Trophy.