President Obama greets, from left, NASA's Michael Duncan, Albert Holland, James Polk, Clint Cragg

President Obama offered praise this week to five from NASA for their efforts to assist with the rescue of 33 Chilean miners trapped a half mile underground for 69 days.

The men were rescued on Oct. 13, an event broadcast live by CNN.

Early on, Chile’s Ministries of Health and Mining as well as the Chilean space agency sought help from NASA with care of the men and their families while rescue teams drilled an escape hole into the collapsed San Jose gold and copper mine.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden called on Dr. Michael Duncan, NASA deputy chief medical officer at the Johnson Space Center; Dr. Albert Holland, Johnson psychologist; Dr. James Polk, Johnson medical officer and emergency medicine specialist; Clint Cragg, the principal engineer at the NASA Engineering and Safety Center in Hampton, Va.; and Albert Condes, the deputy associate administrator for International and Interagency Affairs at NASA headquarters, to assist.

Under Duncan’s leadership, the delegation traveled to Chile for consultations between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, and remained available to Chilean authorities throughout the ordeal.

The NASA team offered advice on nutrition, hydration, medical treatment and psychological support for the men and their families as well as help in the design of the capsule used to raise the miners to the surface one by one.

The men received NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal as well for their life saving assistance