Congressional Space Medal of Honor
The Congressional Space Medal of Honor has only been awarded to a very select group of astronauts. Despite the medal's name, the President awards this medal based upon recommendations from the NASA Administrator. Congress authorized the 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 Armstrong 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
Frank Borman 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
Charles "Pete"
Conrad, Jr. 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
John H. Glenn,
Jr. 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
Virgil I. "Gus"
Grissom* 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
Alan B. Shepard 10/1/78 Jimmy Carter
John W. Young 5/19/81 Ronald Reagan
Thomas P.
Stafford 1/19/93 George Bush
James A. Lovell 7/26/95 Bill Clinton
Shannon W. Lucid 12/2/96 Bill Clinton
Roger B. Chaffee* 12/17/97 Bill Clinton
Edward H. White,
II* 12/17/97 Bill Clinton
William M.
Shepherd 1/15/03 George W. Bush
Rick D. Husband* 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
William C. McCool * 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
Michael P. Anderson* 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
Kalpana Chawla* 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
David M. Brown* 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
Laurel B. Clark* 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
Ilan Ramon * 2/3/2004 George W. Bush
Francis R.
(Dick) Scobee* 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Michael J. Smith* 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Judith A. Resnik * 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Ronald E. McNair
* 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Ellison S. Onizuka* 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Gregory B. Jarvis*
7/23/04 George W. Bush
Sharon Christa
McAuliffe* 7/23/04 George W. Bush
Robert L. Crippen 4/26/06 George W. Bush
*Awarded posthumously