Christina Koch

Christina Koch is an American astronaut who was part of the historic Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in over 50 years. The mission, which included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, successfully completed its lunar flyby and returned to Earth on April 11, 2026. During their journey, the crew captured significant images, including views of an "Earthset" and the far side of the Moon, and praised the performance of their Orion spacecraft, particularly its heat shield. Koch and her crewmates have since participated in welcome home events, sharing their awe at the experience and the perspective gained of Earth as a "lifeboat hanging in the universe." The Artemis II mission is a key step in NASA's broader lunar exploration program, aiming to re-establish a human presence on the Moon.