On Wednesday, a group of Black female scientists known as NASA's 'Hidden Figures' received Congressional Gold Medals for their significant contributions to space exploration.

The honorees include Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden, who played pivotal roles during the U.S. space program's early years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted the ceremony, emphasizing that these women's groundbreaking contributions laid the foundation for NASA's space achievements.

Katherine Johnson, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, was instrumental in astronaut John Glenn's 1962 orbital mission.

Dorothy Vaughan became NASA's first Black supervisor, while Mary Jackson was the agency's first Black female engineer, and Christine Darden is recognized for her research on sonic booms.

The medals were presented posthumously to the families of the honorees during a ceremony at the federal Capitol.

The awards also honored all women who worked as mathematicians, engineers, and 'human computers' at NASA and its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, from the 1930s to the 1970s.

The Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by the late Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, authorized these medals and was enacted in 2019.

The film adaptation of Margot Lee Shetterly's book 'Hidden Figures' further popularized the stories of these women, with NASA collaborating on its historical accuracy.

The ceremony included participation from 'Hidden Figures' author Margot Lee Shetterly, families of NASA engineers, members of Congress, and other dignitaries.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted that the achievements of NASA today are built on the legacy of these pioneering women.

Christine Darden observed the ceremony remotely from her home in Connecticut.