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Artemis II is one of the world's hottest news stories at the moment. The expedition to return to the Moon is getting closer and expectations are growing. For the crew, the desire to be part of this event is increasing.
One of them is Christina Koch, an astronaut who is part of the mission. Her career combines engineering, hiking and family farm life. She is a woman who enjoys rock climbing and surfing.
She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. She served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) during Expeditions 59, 60 and 61. Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with a total of 328 days in space, and participated in the first all-female spacewalk. She has been assigned as Mission Specialist I on NASA's Artemis II mission.
Before becoming an astronaut
Her experience encompassed both the development of instruments for space science missions and scientific field engineering in remote areas of Antarctica and the Arctic.
She developed space science instruments as an electrical engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where she contributed to missions such as Juno and the Van Allen probes. During this time, she was a member of the fire and search and rescue teams.
What are your hobbies outside of NASA?
In her spare time, Christina is someone who enjoys exercising or physical activities, but she is also altruistic. She practices surfing, rock and ice climbing, triathlons, yoga, backpacking, woodworking and photography. She also participates in community service events.
Who is Christina?
She is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan; grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and was living in Livingston, Montana, when she was selected to join the Astronaut Corps. Growing up, spending summers on the family farm in Michigan, she developed a strong passion for hard work and challenges.She attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, where she earned bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering and physics, as well as a master's degree in electrical engineering, in addition to studying abroad at the University of Ghana. She attended high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham and White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She later received an honorary doctorate from North Carolina State University.
Awards and honors
Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence (Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 2020); Astronautical Engineering Award (National Space Club & Foundation, 2020); ATHENA Global Leadership Award (ATHENA International, 2020). NASA Group Achievement Award (Juno mission, 2012); Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Invention of the Year nomination (2009); United States Congressional Antarctic Service Medal with Winter Distinction (2005); NASA Group Achievement Award (Suzaku mission, 2005).