NASA astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper has awarded Georgian-Armenian female pilot Nadezhda Benklyan with The International Women of Courage Award from the U.S embassy. Nadezhda is the first and only female pilot in Georgia’s civil aviation, Sputnik Georgia reported.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Georgian Aviation University. NASA’s astronaut met with the students and shared her experience.

Piper has achieved the rank of Captain in the United States Navy. The astronaut flown into space in 2006 for the first time.

“It is a great honor for me, especially because such a significant person has awarded me. I am thrilled. It is an incredible feeling when such a person admires you. It turns out that she wanted to become a pilot, but was unable due to vision problems," said Benklyan.

Benklyan began working for the Georgian Airways a few months ago.