NASA Distinguished Service Medal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| NASA Distinguished Service Medal | |
|---|---|
 NASA Distinguished Service Medal |
|
| Awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
| Type | Individual Award |
| Eligibility | Federal employees |
| Awarded for | "distinguished service, ability, or courage, [that] has...made a contribution representing substantial progress to aeronautical or space exploration in the interests of the United States" |
| Status | Active |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1959 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Congressional Space Medal of Honor |
| Next (lower) | NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal |
 NASA Distinguished Service Ribbon |
|
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 numerous 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.
Contents |
