Christina Koch - NASA (2024)

Christina Hammock Koch [pronunciation: “Cook”] was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. She served as flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) for Expedition 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 of NASA’s Artemis II mission.

Personal

Koch is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina and resided in Livingston, Montana when she was selected to join the Astronaut Corps. Growing up spending summers on her family’s farm in Michigan, she was instilled with a passion for hard work and challenges. Her hobbies include surfing, rock climbing, community service, running, yoga, backpacking, photography and travel.

Koch attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and studied abroad at the University of Ghana. She attended high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham, North Carolina and White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She later received an Honorary PhD from North Carolina State University.

Experience

Koch’s experience prior to becoming an Astronaut spanned both space science instrument development and remote scientific field engineering. Her career began as an Electrical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) where she contributed to instruments on several NASA space science missions. Koch then became a Research Associate in the United States Antarctic Program which included a yearlong stay with a winter-over at the Admunsen-Scott South Pole Station and season at Palmer Station. While in this role, she served as a member of the Firefighting and Search and Rescue Teams. Koch then returned to space science instrument development as an Electrical Engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Space Department, where she contributed to instruments on missions including Juno and the Van Allen Probes. Koch then returned to remote scientific field work with tours at Palmer Station in Antarctica and Summit Station in Greenland. Next, joining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she continued work at remote scientific bases, serving as a Field Engineer in Utqiagvik, Alaska and as Station Chief of the American Samoa Observatory. Throughout her career, she has done technical instructing, volunteer tutoring and educational outreach.

Koch participated in the NASA Academy program in 2001 and worked as an Electrical Engineer at GSFC early in her career. She was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class and completed Astronaut Candidate training in 2015. In 2018, she was assigned to her first space flight, a long duration mission on the ISS. After her spaceflight, Koch served as Branch Chief of the Assigned Crew Branch in the Astronaut Office. She then went on a rotation as Assistant for Technical Integration for the Center Director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Koch is currently training for NASA’s Artemis II mission.

Space Flight Experience

Koch launched on March 14, 2019 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft with Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague. She returned to Earth on February 6, 2020 on the MS-13 Soyuz spacecraft with Roscosmos Cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Luca Parmitano. Serving as a Flight Engineer on the ISS for Expeditions 59, 60 and 61, she and her crewmates contributed to hundreds of experiments in many kinds of science and technology development. Some of the scientific highlights from her missions include doing robotics for upgrades to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, growing protein crystals for pharmaceutical research, and testing 3D biological printers in microgravity. Koch conducted six spacewalks, including the first three all women spacewalks, totaling 42 hours and 15 minutes. She has spent a total of 328 days in space.

Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 2020; Astronautics Engineer Award, National Space Club & Foundation, 2020; Global ATHENA Leadership Award, ATHENA International, 2020. NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Juno Mission Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument, 2012; Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Invention of the Year nominee, 2009; United States Congress Antarctic Service Medal with Winter-Over distinction, 2005; NASA Group Achievement Award, NASA Suzaku Mission X-ray Spectrometer, 2005.

Koch, Christina H. (PDF 285 KB)

Christina Koch - NASA (2024)

FAQs

What is Christina Koch doing now? ›

After her spaceflight, Koch served as Branch Chief of the Assigned Crew Branch in the Astronaut Office. She then went on a rotation as Assistant for Technical Integration for the Center Director at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Koch is currently training for NASA's Artemis II mission.

Does Christina Koch have a child? ›

Births. A son, Robert James Koch, was born on February 15, 2023, at The Richland Hospital to Jamie and Christina Koch of Richland Center.

Where did Christina Koch go to college? ›

Christina Hammock Koch (/kʊk/ COOK; née Hammock; born January 29, 1979) is an American engineer and NASA astronaut of the class of 2013. She received Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics and a Master of Science in electrical engineering at North Carolina State University.

Who was the first woman astronaut to represent NASA? ›

Ten months later, on June 18, 1983, astronaut Sally K. Ride made history as the first American woman in space, spending seven days aboard space shuttle Challenger during the STS-7 mission. Left: The six women astronauts selected by NASA in 1978, Shannon M.

Who spent the longest time in space? ›

The longest continuous stay in space is also held by a Russian named Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 consecutive days onboard the former Mir space station between 1994 and 1995.

Who was the first girl to go to the moon? ›

The first woman to travel to the Moon already has a name and surname. Her full name is Christina Hammock Koch and she has been chosen to take part in Artemis II, the manned mission that represents the return of American astronauts to the moon after an absence of more than half a century.

Does Christina have 3 kids? ›

Christina Hall is a proud mom to her kids: Taylor, Brayden and Hudson. The HGTV star welcomed Taylor and Brayden El Moussa in 2010 and 2015, respectively, with her first husband Tarek El Moussa. The couple were married from 2009 to 2018 and starred on the home renovation series Flip or Flop together.

Does Lily Tomlin have a child? ›

Her character Frankie Bergstein in Netflix's Grace and Frankie may be a wild, yet nurturing mother, but Lily Tomlin isn't. And she has never wanted to be. She and her wife Jane Wagner have been together for 50 years, and instead of raising children, they've spent most of their lives just creating.

Does Christina's husband Josh have a child? ›

While Josh doesn't have any children of his own, he's well-versed in life with kids as the oldest of a blended family of 11 siblings. "So he has a lot of experience with kids even though he wasn't a father, he was the oldest of 11 other kids.

Did Christina Koch make it to the moon? ›

On the Artemis II mission, scheduled for November, Koch will spend 10 days on a trip to circle the moon with three other astronauts. Doing this will probably mean she won't get to set foot on the lunar surface in the future, however, due to the lifetime safety limits on how long an astronaut can spend in space.

How much do a astronaut get paid? ›

Civilian Astronaut Salary

According to Federal Pay, astronauts would rank at GS 12-13, translating to $84,365 to $115,079 according to 2024 GS rates. However, NASA's website lists its 2024 astronaut pay as $152,258 a year; its 2020 call for astronaut candidates listed a range of $104,898 to $161,141 at GS levels 13-14.

How to become an astronaut? ›

Becoming an astronaut can take approximately 10 years. This includes four years of college, two years for a master's degree, two years of professional experience and then two years in the NASA Astronaut Corps. It can take longer, depending on how quickly you complete coursework and training.

Who was the female astronaut that died? ›

The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier on June 18, 1983, when she became the first American woman in space. Sally Ride died on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61. This tribute is based on earlier interviews and remembrances by her colleagues.

Who is the most famous female astronaut? ›

Former Astronaut Sally Ride

Sally Ride was the first American woman to fly in space.

Who was the first black woman in space? ›

As a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison has always reached for the stars. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space. She has also written several books and appeared on many television programs including an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

What is Julia Koch doing now? ›

Julia Koch serves on the boards of Koch Industries, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Venetian Heritage. Mrs. Koch, along with her adult children, David Jr.

Who was the NASA astronaut from North Carolina? ›

Today, Governor Roy Cooper honored NASA Astronaut and North Carolina Native Christina Koch for her accomplishments and celebrated North Carolina's STEM education programs and strong public schools.

Who is on the Artemis crew? ›

Artemis 2 is to be crewed by four astronauts: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor J. Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. On November 22, 2023, Jenni Gibbons was announced to be Hansen's backup; she will join the mission if Hansen is unable to.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6071

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.