Congressional Space Medal of Honor is the highest award given only to astronauts by NASA.
Congressional Space Medal of Honor . The highest award given by NASA , it is awarded by the President of the United States in Congress 's name on recommendations from the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . To be awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor , an astronaut must perform feats of extraordinary accomplishment while participating in space flight under the authority of NASA . Frank Frederick Borman , II ( born March 14 , 1928 ) , ( Col , USAF , Ret . )