President Joe Biden is set to bestow the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom upon two distinguished individuals from NASA in a ceremony scheduled for Friday at the White House in Washington.
Among the 19 awardees announced on May 3, Dr. Ellen Ochoa and Dr. Jane Rigby will receive this esteemed honor. Dr. Ochoa, former center director and astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, and Dr. Rigby, senior project scientist for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, are being recognized for their exceptional contributions to science and space exploration.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the nation, and these NASA recipients epitomize excellence in their respective fields. Dr. Ochoa, renowned for her leadership at NASA Johnson and as the first Hispanic woman in space, has left an indelible mark on the agency with her pioneering achievements. Dr. Rigby’s groundbreaking work on NASA’s transformative space telescope underscores her unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of the cosmos.
Expressing pride in the accomplishments of Drs. Ochoa and Rigby, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson lauded their pivotal roles in NASA missions and their efforts to inspire future generations of space explorers. Dr. Ochoa’s illustrious career spans over three decades, during which she served in various leadership roles at NASA Johnson and distinguished herself as an accomplished astronaut. Dr. Rigby’s contributions to the success of the James Webb Space Telescope, coupled with her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in science, have cemented her legacy as a trailblazer in astrophysics.
Dr. Ochoa, a California native, embarked on her NASA journey in 1988, serving in diverse roles before making history as the first Hispanic woman to venture into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. Over the course of four spaceflights, she logged nearly 1,000 hours in orbit, earning accolades such as NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award.
Dr. Rigby, hailing from Delaware, has been instrumental in shaping the success of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful space telescope ever launched. Her groundbreaking research on galaxy evolution and her advocacy for inclusivity in the scientific community have garnered widespread recognition, including the 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year award.
The contributions of Drs. Ochoa and Rigby serve as a testament to NASA’s unwavering commitment to scientific excellence and exploration. As they are honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, their remarkable achievements will continue to inspire generations of scientists and space enthusiasts worldwide.
