Former NASA Astronaut Douglas Totaling And Robert Behnken Terima Congressional Space Medal Of Honor

Former NASA astronaut Douglas total and Robert Behnken (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA - Yesterday became a historic day for two former NASA astronauts, on behalf of US President Joe Biden, US Vice President Kamala Harris conferring Douglas total and Robert Behnken Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

The award was awarded for their courage in the manned NASA-2 (Demo-2) SpaceX Demonstration Mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020 which lasted for two months.

"Hurley and Behnken, together, have written the first page of a new chapter in the history of American spaceflight," Harris, who chaired the National Space Council, was quoted as saying on NASA's official website, Wednesday, January 1.

Hurley and Behnken represent the best of our nation no doubt. The courage, commitment, luminosity, vision, ability to see and understand what is possible and then do, representing the best of ourselves as a nation," he added.

Both of them, now former NASA astronauts, are the first award recipients since 2006. Congressional Space Medal of Honor passed Congress in 1969 to recognize an astronaut who in his duties has distinguished himself from efforts and contributions that have contributed greatly to the welfare of the nation and humanity.

The honor has now been given to 30 people, including Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard (the first American to travel into space), John Glenn (the first American in orbit), and Frank Borman (the commander of Apollo 8, the first lunar orbit mission).

The award was given posthumously to the crew of Apollo 1 and those who died on the shuttle Challenger and Columbia.

America's story is about innovation, exploration, and advanced pioneers. Andpanya and Behnken represent the story of America," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

Whenkode dan Behnkenluncurkan ke dalam sejarah, era baru penerbangan luar angkasa manusia mulai terbang. Misi Demo-2 menunjukkan kepemimpinan Amerika dan menginjak teknologi dan menginspirasi pemikiran yang tak beranjumlah untuk berani berharap terbang di antara bintang-star. Selamat kepada hourse dan Behnken atas kehormatan yang memang pantas ini!," tambahnya.

On May 30, 2020, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft took off to the ISS, marking the first mission launched with astronauts as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Demo-2, a mission that has been made for more than a decade, is the first time US astronauts have been launched from American soil on American rockets since the end of the Spacecraft Program in 2011.

For information,irand Behnken left the astronaut corps after the Demo-2 mission.CEpat retired from NASA in July 2021 and is now director of business development for the Northrop Grumman propulsion system business unit.

Meanwhile, Behnken retired from NASA in November 2022 and joined the Lockheed Martin space division as director of technological acceleration.