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Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Astronaut Neil Armstrong received the first Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Jimmy Carter, assisted by Captain Robert Peterson.
Credits: NASA

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor has only been awarded to a very select group of astronauts. Despite the medal’s name, the U.S. President awards this medal based upon recommendations from the NASA Administrator. Congress authorized the President to “award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of appropriate design, which shall be known as the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, to any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionalIy meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind.”

For more background information on this prestigious award, see the relevant section of the public law and of the Code of Federal Regulations.

List of Awardees

Astronaut Date President
Neil A. Armstrong October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
Frank Borman October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr. October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
John H. Glenn, Jr. October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom* October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
Alan B. Shepard October 1, 1978 Jimmy Carter
John W. Young May 19, 1981 Ronald Reagan
Thomas P. Stafford January 19, 1993 George H. W. Bush
James A. Lovell July 26, 1995 Bill Clinton
Shannon W. Lucid December 2, 1996 Bill Clinton
Roger B. Chaffee* December 17, 1997 Bill Clinton
Edward H. White, II* December 17, 1997 Bill Clinton
William M. Shepherd January 15, 2003 George W. Bush
Rick D. Husband* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
William C. McCool* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
Michael P. Anderson* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
Kalpana Chawla* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
David M. Brown* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
Laurel B. Clark* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
Ilan Ramon* February 3, 2004 George W. Bush
Francis R. (Dick) Scobee* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Michael J. Smith* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Judith A. Resnik* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Ronald E. McNair* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Ellison S. Onizuka* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Gregory B. Jarvis* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Sharon Christa McAuliffe* July 23, 2004 George W. Bush
Robert L. Crippen April 26, 2006 George W. Bush
Douglas G. Hurley January 31, 2023 Joe Biden
Robert L. Behnken January 31, 2023 Joe Biden

*Awarded posthumously

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Last Updated
Jul 25, 2023