Who Is Christina Koch? 5 Things to Know About the Artemis 2 Astronaut
Christina Koch is part of NASA’s historic Artemis II crew. Learn more about the astronaut set to orbit the Moon and her career.
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Christina Koch is preparing to make history once again. The veteran NASA astronaut has been selected for the highly anticipated Artemis II mission—a groundbreaking mission that will send humans around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. Koch will join fellow astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen on the roughly 10-day journey. Already known for her record-breaking time in space and role in the first all-women spacewalk, Koch is now set to become the first woman to fly around the Moon.
Learn more about her life, career, and journey to this historic moment below.
She Is Originally From North Carolina
Koch was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but she was raised in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Growing up, she was inspired by pioneering astronauts and developed an early passion for science and exploration that eventually led her to pursue engineering and physics.
She Is a NASA Astronaut Selected in 2013
Koch was selected as part of NASA’s 2013 astronaut class and later spent 328 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station—the longest single spaceflight by a woman. During that mission, she also participated in the first all-female spacewalk alongside fellow astronaut Jessica Meir.
“We caught each other’s eye, and we knew that we were really honored with this opportunity to inspire so many,” Koch said at the time, per CNN. “Just hearing our voices talk to Mission Control, knowing two female voices had never been on the loops, solving those problems together outside — it was a really special feeling.”
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
She Is Married to Fellow Engineer Robert Koch
Christina is married to Robert Koch, an engineer, and the couple has largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight. She has shared that she often brings personal items, like handwritten notes from loved ones, on missions—highlighting how important her family support system is during long periods away from Earth.
She Worked in Antarctica Before Joining NASA
Before becoming an astronaut, Koch worked in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including Antarctica, Greenland, and Alaska. She spent years as a field engineer supporting scientific research, even completing a winter at the South Pole, where she endured months of isolation and harsh conditions—experience that helped prepare her for long-duration space missions.
She Will Become the First Woman to Fly Around the Moon
Koch is set to make history on the Artemis II mission, becoming the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and fly around the Moon. The roughly 10-day mission marks NASA’s first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years and is a major step toward future Moon landings.
