NASA Astronauts Honored with Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Vice President Kamala Harris presented former NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Tuesday, recognizing their bravery and exceptional contributions during the SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) to the International Space Station in 2020. This marks the first time the award has been given since 2006.

VP Kamala Harris Awards Honors to Hurley and Behnken

In a televised event in Washington, Vice President Kamala Harris, who chairs the National Space Council, presented the honors to Hurley and Behnken. “Bob and Doug represent the best of our nation – there’s no question about it. The courage; the commitment; the brilliance; the vision; the ability to see and understand what is possible and then to go for it, represents the best of who we are as a nation,” said Harris.

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor, authorized by Congress in 1969, is awarded to astronauts who have made exceptional contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity. It is a prestigious honor, with only 30 recipients, including the crews of the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia disasters, who received the award posthumously.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Hurley and Behnken

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised Hurley and Behnken, stating, “When Doug and Bob launched into history, a new era of human spaceflight took flight. The Demo-2 mission showcased American leadership and technological ingenuity and inspired countless minds to dare to dream to fly among the stars. Congratulations to Doug and Bob on this well-deserved honor!”

SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2)

The SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) was a decade-long project that marked the first time American astronauts had launched from American soil on an American rocket since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. On May 30, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off to the International Space Station. This mission was part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and marked a new era of human spaceflight.