NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to Represent Agency at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Recognizing Women in Space Race
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will be representing the agency during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. EDT. The ceremony will honor the women who contributed to the space race, including the NASA mathematicians who played a crucial role in landing the first astronauts on the Moon as part of the agency’s Apollo Program.
Insight: The recognition of these women highlights the important and often overlooked contributions that they made to the success of the Apollo Program and beyond. Their work paved the way for future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM fields and continue making advancements in space exploration.
Hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, the ceremony will be held inside Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, with Nelson expected to be among the speakers.
Media Coverage and RSVP Details
The event will be streamed live on Speaker Johnson’s YouTube channel, and the agency will share a direct link in advance. Media without current congressional credentials interested in participating must RSVP by Sept. 13 to Abby Ronson at: abby.ronson@mail.house.gov.
Medal Information
Introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson on Feb. 27, 2019, the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law later that year. The awards will include:
– Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, for her service as a mathematician
– Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service as an aeronautical engineer
– Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, for their contributions during the space race
– Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of all the women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NACA and NASA between the 1930s and 1970s.
Insight: This recognition of the women who worked at NACA and NASA during this time period is a testament to their dedication and expertise that played a vital role in the success of early space exploration efforts.
For more information about NASA missions, visit the agency’s official website.
