This Week at NASA: Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony and More

During a Nov. 24 ceremony at the White House, former NASA mathematician and physicist Katherine Johnson was one of seventeen individuals to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
It is the nation’s highest civilian honor – given for meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Johnson’s work influenced NASA space programs – from Project Mercury through the space shuttle. Her calculations were used for some of NASA’s most historic missions – including the 1961 flight of Alan Shepard, the first American in space; the 1962 flight during which John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth; and the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Also, Happy Thanksgiving, from space, Next space station crew prepares for launch, Anniversary of first 3-D part printed in space, First flight mirror installed on Webb telescope, Climate and marine study and more.