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NASA Distinguished Service Medal

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This article is about NASA-awarded Distinguished Service Medal. For other U.S. versions, see Distinguished Service Medal (disambiguation).
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
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NASA Distinguished Service Medal
TypeMedal
CountryUnited States
EligibilityGovernment employees only
StatusActive
EstablishedJuly 29, 1959
NASA Distinguished Service Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)Congressional Space Medal of Honor
EquivalentDistinguished Public Service Medal
Next (lower)Outstanding Leadership Medal

The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. The medal may be presented to any member of the federal government, including both military astronauts and civilian employees.

The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to those who display distinguished service, ability, or courage, and have personally made a contribution representing substantial progress to the NASA mission. The contribution must be so extraordinary that other forms of recognition would be inadequate.

Typical presentations of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal included awards to senior NASA administrators, mission control leaders, and astronauts who have completed several successful space flights. Due to the prestige of the award, the decoration is authorized for wear on active uniforms of the United States military. Another such authorized decoration is the NASA Space Flight Medal.

Upon the recommendation of NASA, the president may award an even higher honor to astronauts, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

The medal was original awarded by the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics and was inherited by NASA. The first NASA version (type I), featuring the NASA seal, was issued from 1959 until 1961, when it was replaced by the current type II medal (shown). Only three type I medals were awarded—to John W. Crowley, NASA Director of Aeronautical and Space Research; and Mercury astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom.

James Webb's award, 1 November 1968

Recipients

1959

1961

1962

1965

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1981

1992


1995

2000

  • No awards

2001

Joseph Philip Loftus Jr. April 2001

2002

2003

2004

2007

2008

2009

2010[9]

2011

2012

See also

References

  1. ^ Morris, John S. (1961) "President Will Give Medal to Astronaut", The New York Times, May 7 1961.
  2. ^ http://www.mach-buster.co.uk/#/petersen-to-ridley/4532806536
  3. ^ Astronaut Bio: Robert L. Crippen (07\2001)
  4. ^ James Voss
  5. ^ Astronaut Bio: William McCool 5/04
  6. ^ NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Honors Employees at Annual Awards Ceremony | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference
  7. ^ NASA - Tampa Native Hendriksen Receives NASA Distinguished Service Medal
  8. ^ Christopher Scolese Receives the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (200908120001HQ) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
  9. ^ https://searchpub.nssc.nasa.gov/servlet/sm.web.Fetch/awardbrochure050310_v3.pdf?rhid=1000&did=712198&type=released
  10. ^ "Distinguished Service Medal" (PDF).
  11. ^ a b "NASA Awards" (PDF). Spaceport News. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASA_Distinguished_Service_Medal&oldid=570341444"