According to The Washington Post, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor is often awarded to recognise a first in space flight. Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard (the first American to fly to space), John Glenn (the first American in orbit), and Frank Borman are among the previous winners (commander of Apollo 8, the first lunar orbit mission). The medal was also given posthumously to the Apollo 1 crew and those who perished on the Challenger and Columbia space shuttles.
