The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by the United States 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." The award is a separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery and gallantry in combat. Space Congressional Medal of Honor File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Space Congressional Medal of Honor File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit (MMU) outside the Challenger in 1984. ... This article is about the military award; for the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ...
Although the Congressional Space Medal of Honor is a civilian award of the United States government, it is authorized as a military decoration for display on U.S. military uniforms due to the prestige of the decoration. In such cases, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor is worn as a ribbon following all United States Armed Forces decorations. Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...
To be awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, an astronaut must perform feats of extraordinary accomplishment while participating in actual space flight under the authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Typically, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor is awarded for scientific discoveries or actions of tremendous benefit to mankind. The decoration may also be awarded for extreme bravery during a space emergency or in preventing a major space disaster. The Congressional Space Medal of Honor may also be presented posthumously to those astronauts who died in the line of duty while performing a United States space mission. Currently, the most common technology for space transport is rocket propulsion, which expels matter to provide a net forward thrust. ... This article needs cleanup. ...
Recepients
As of 2004, 27 astronauts have been honored with the award, which is presented by the President of the United States in Congress's name. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ...
Although all Medals of Honor are sometimes called by the name "CongressionalMedal of Honor," standard military practice is to refer to them simply as the "Medal of Honor" (all references in the U.S. Code refer to it as such, as do the individual military services).
Many Medals of Honor awarded in the 19th century were associated with saving the flag, not just for patriotic reasons, but because the flag was a primary means of battlefield communication.
Before the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Honor in 2005 to Paul R. Smith, the medal was last awarded during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, when MSG Gary Gordon and SFC Randy Shughart lost their lives defending downed Black Hawk helicopter pilot CWO Michael Durant.
On December 17, 1997, Roger Chaffee and Ed White were posthumously awarded the CongressionalSpaceMedal of Honor by President Clinton in the Oval Office.
The actual Congressional Citation was presented by the Sergeant of Arms from the Marine Corps Guard.
Congress had approved the CongressionalSpaceMedal of Honor in 1969 and it took 9 years for the first one to be awarded in 1978 and another 19 years for Ed and Roger to be recognized.
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