Topic: Congressional Space Medal of Honor recipients
Jacques van Oene Member
Posts: 924 From: Houten, The Netherlands Registered: Oct 2001
posted 07-24-2004 06:15 AM
NASA release
Challenger Crew Honored with Congressional Space Medal of Honor
The families of the Space Shuttle Challenger's crew today (July 24) accepted the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. The honors, presented in the name of Congress and on behalf of President George W. Bush, were made during a private ceremony with the families of the seven astronauts in Washington.
"The Challenger tragedy was a defining moment in American history and demonstrated that achieving great things often comes with great sacrifice. We honor the bravery and dedication of the crew and their families with a renewed commitment to the causes to which they devoted their lives — exploration and discovery," said Administrator O'Keefe. "Not a single day goes by that the entire NASA family doesn't think about the incredible spirit of these brave explorers. We will never forget our fallen astronaut heroes and their courageous families."
The Space Shuttle Challenger's crew of seven astronauts died in the explosion of their spacecraft during the launch of STS-51-L on January 28, 1986, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The explosion occurred 73 seconds into the flight, as a result of a leak in one of two Solid Rocket Boosters that ignited the main liquid fuel tank.
Above: Presidential Science Advisor Dr. John Marburger and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe are joined by STS-51L crew family members, including Christa McAuliffe's mother Grace Corrigan, Jane Smith Wolcott, June Scobee Rodgers, Cheryl McNair and Charles Resnik.
The STS-51-L crew included Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Judith A. Resnik, Ronald E. McNair and Ellison S. Onizuka, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis and Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to fly in space.
The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969 to recognize "any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and mankind."
Astronauts who have been honored with the Congressional Space Medal include John Young, Jim Lovell, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Shannon Lucid, William Shepherd and Senator John Glenn. In all, a total of 27 astronauts have now been honored.
Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong received the very first Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1978 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
nelyubov Member
Posts: 147 From: USA Registered: Sep 2003
posted 07-24-2004 12:48 PM
I know of only 12 having received it before the Challenger crew:
Neil Armstrong
Frank Borman
Charles "Pete" Conrad
John Glenn
Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Alan Shepard
John Young
Thomas Stafford
James Lovell
Shannon Lucid
Roger Chaffee
Edward White
sfurtaw Member
Posts: 111 From: Saginaw, MI USA Registered: Feb 2004
posted 07-24-2004 01:36 PM
According to the Astronaut Fact book (dated July 2003), William Shepherd was awarded the Medal on January 15, 2003.
To the best of my knowledge, the crew of Columbia have not been awarded the medal.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-25-2004 03:11 PM
The STS-107 crew members' families accepted the award in February, on the one year anniversary of the loss of Columbia.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2023 04:38 PM
NASA release NASA release
Former NASA Astronauts to Receive Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Vice President Kamala Harris will award former NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken the Congressional Space Medal of Honor at 4:15 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Hurley and Behnken will receive the award for bravery in NASA's SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) to the International Space Station in 2020.
The ceremony will air on NASA Television, the agency's website, and the NASA app, as well as the agency's flagship Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels.
On May 30, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft launched to the space station, marking the first mission to launch with astronauts as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Larry McGlynn Member
Posts: 1483 From: Boston, MA Registered: Jul 2003
posted 01-30-2023 06:44 PM
I wonder why Bruce McCandless did not receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor? He was the first to test the MMU untethered out from the space shuttle.
CJ Member
Posts: 116 From: Cherry Hill, NJ Registered: Nov 2003
posted 01-30-2023 08:26 PM
John Young and Robert Crippin launched on a vehicle that was never tested beyond 30,000 feet.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2023 09:33 PM
George W. Bush awarded Crippen the medal in 2006, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of STS-1. (Young had received it from Ronald Reagan in 1981.)
quote:Originally posted by Larry McGlynn: I wonder why Bruce McCandless did not receive the SMOH?
My guess is that if the MMU had continued to be used after the Challenger tragedy, more consideration would have been made to award McCandless.
Gordon Eliot Reade Member
Posts: 261 From: California Registered: Jun 2015
posted 01-30-2023 09:38 PM
Walter Cunningham, William Anders, James McDivitt, David Scott, Rusty Schweickart, Eugene Cernan, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Richard Gordon, Alan Bean, Jack Swigert, Fred Haise, Stuart Roosa, Edgar Mitchell, Alfred Worden, James Irwin, Ken Mattingly, Charles Duke, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt were never awarded the SMoH. Will anyone here tell me that they are unworthy?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2023 09:55 PM
If you look at the precedent set by the first six recipients, there were all honored for their role as commanders of first flights.
For example, Gus Grissom was honored for commanding the Apollo 1 crew, not his flights on Mercury or Gemini, and Pete Conrad was awarded for leading the first Skylab crew, not walking on the moon. For whatever reason, there was an intent by Congress to honor the commanders only.
That approach was respected going forward, with the exception of Shannon Lucid and Bob Crippen (as well as the posthumous awards for Roger Chaffee, Ed White and the STS-51L and STS-107 crews).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The first NASA astronauts to launch on board a commercial spacecraft have been presented with the United States' highest honor reserved for spaceflight veterans.
Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, who flew on the first crewed demonstration flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft in 2020, received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday (Jan. 31). Authorized by Congress in 1969, the medal is presented to astronauts who are recommended by the NASA Administrator.
Bob M Member
Posts: 2133 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
posted 08-22-2026 08:40 AM
In 1978, at the Kennedy Space Center, six astronauts were the recipients of the first Congressional Space Medal of Honor and shown here is an official program from that event autographed by three of the six recipients: Alan Shepard (first American in space); John Glenn (first American to orbit the earth; and Neil Armstrong, first person to walk on the moon). The other three recipients were Frank Borman, Charles Conrad and Virgil "Gus" Grissom.
Many would consider Shepard, Glenn and Armstrong America's most famous and historic astronauts.
nelyubov Member
Posts: 147 From: USA Registered: Sep 2003
posted 08-22-2026 06:13 PM
Has anyone seen a photo of Bill Shepherd presentation of his Space Medal of Honor ceremony?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-28-2026 09:14 AM
The closest I have come across is a photo of President Bush giving a tour of the White House Rose Garden to some of the crew members of STS-113 and ISS Expeditions 1, 4 and 5. The medal was presented to Shepherd during that visit on Jan. 15, 2003.
You might be able to find a photo by submitting a FOIA request for White House photos from that day.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-28-2026 09:15 AM
NASA video
Join us as President Donald J. Trump awards each of NASA’s Artemis II crew members with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will join the President and astronauts in the award ceremony.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The first astronauts to fly to the moon in more than 50 years have been awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch, all of NASA, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen were presented with the award by President Donald Trump and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Friday (Aug. 28). The Congressional Space Medal of Honor is the United States' highest distinction reserved for spaceflight veterans.
nelyubov Member
Posts: 147 From: USA Registered: Sep 2003
posted 08-29-2026 03:54 PM
Still waiting for a Space Medal of Honor awarded to Major Michael Adams! The only astronaut killed in a spaceflight without a medal. Apollo 1. Challenger and Columbia were all awarded the Space Medal of Honor, but not Adams, why?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 57045 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-29-2026 04:09 PM
Have you contacted the NASA Administrator?
Any person may recommend to the Administrator that an astronaut be nominated for award of the Medal. Such a recommendation must be in writing, and must describe in concise detail the events believed to warrant award of the Medal. The recommendation should, if appropriate, be accompanied by supporting documentation, such as eyewitness statements. extracts from official records, sketches, photographs, etc.
Mike Isbell Member
Posts: 624 From: Silver Spring, Maryland USA Registered: Aug 2003
posted 09-09-2026 12:49 PM
With due regard to the precedent set by the first six recipients going forward, in my opinion James McDivitt should have been awarded the SMoH as he was the commander of the first manned flight of a lunar module on Apollo 9.
posted 07-24-2004 06:15 AM
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