The four Black women mathemiticians and engineers whose work broke barriers in science and space exploration were celebrated on Capitol Hill for their historic contributions.

On Sept. 18, a historic moment unfolded as a group of Black female scientists and mathematicians — known as NASA’s "Hidden Figures" — were awarded

NASA Administrator Nelson described while presenting the awards, “The pioneers that we honor today, these Hidden Figures — their courage and imagination brought us to the Moon. And their lessons, their legacy, will send us back to the Moon and then, imagine, just imagine, when we leave our footprints on the red sands of Mars.”

U.S. Capitol Police honor guards place Congressional Gold Medals to be presented at a ceremony to honor the Black women mathematicians of NASA who contributed to the space race and who were the subject of the movie "Hidden Figures," at the Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Lucas, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) were among the speakers heaping praise on the women, who join an elite group of less than 200 people and institutions that have received the Congressional Gold Medal, first awarded by the Continental Congress in 1776 to George Washington.