* Candace Award for Science (National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 1988)
* Honorary Doctorate of Science, Lincoln College (1988)
* Honorary Doctorate of Science, Williams College (1991)
* Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Mount Holyoke College (1992)
* Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Spelman College (1993)
* Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1993)
* Woman of the Year Award, Woman of the Year Foundation (1993)
* Essence Award for Technology and Science (1993)
* Kilby International Award for contributions to the field of science (IEEE) (1993)
* Texas Women's Hall of Fame (1993)
* National Women's Hall of Fame (1993)
* Space Camp Hall of Fame (1993)
* International Space Hall of Fame (1997)
* National Academy of Engineering (2004)
* Honorary Doctorate of Science, Dartmouth College (2005)
* BET Honors Scientist Award (2013)
* Women in Technology International Hall of Fame (2017)