Christina Koch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christina Koch
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Official portrait, 2023
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Christina Hammock
January 29, 1979 |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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338 days, 15 hours, 30 minutes |
| Selection | NASA Group 21 (2013) |
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Total EVAs
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6 |
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Total EVA time
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42 hours, 15 minutes |
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Mission insignia
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Christina Hammock Koch (born January 29, 1979) is an amazing American engineer and NASA astronaut. She is known for her incredible achievements in space. During her long mission to the International Space Station from 2019 to 2020, she made history by doing the first all-female spacewalks. She also set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
Most recently, on the Artemis II mission in April 2026, Christina Koch became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and journey around the Moon. This mission set a new record for how far humans have traveled from Earth. Before becoming an astronaut, Koch worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center and helped manage an observatory in American Samoa.
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Growing Up and School
Christina Hammock Koch was born on January 29, 1979, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the oldest of three children. Her family moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina, where she spent most of her childhood.
During summers, Christina helped on her grandfather's farm in Sparta, Michigan. Her grandparents taught her the importance of hard work. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. She loved looking at pictures of space and Antarctica in National Geographic magazines. These "frontier" places always captured her imagination. She even attended Space Camp several times in Huntsville, Alabama.
Christina graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in 1997. She later studied astrophysics in Ghana for a student exchange program. She earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics from North Carolina State University in 2001. In 2002, she completed a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering. She also finished the NASA Academy program at the Goddard Space Flight Center in 2001. During her studies, she volunteered for groups like Habitat for Humanity.
Science Work and Training
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After college, Christina Koch worked as an electrical engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She helped build scientific tools for missions that studied space and the universe. She also taught physics at a college.
From 2004 to 2007, Christina worked in the United States Antarctic Program. She spent three and a half years in the very cold Arctic and Antarctic regions. She even stayed a whole winter at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, where it was extremely cold. While there, she was part of firefighting and rescue teams. She said living at the South Pole was tough because she went months without seeing the sun.
Later, she worked on instruments for other NASA missions, like Juno. She also spent more time in Antarctica and Greenland. In 2012, she joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She worked as an engineer in Alaska and then as the chief of an observatory in American Samoa.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
In June 2013, Christina Koch was chosen by NASA to become an astronaut. She was part of Astronaut Group 21. She finished her training in July 2015. This training prepared her for space missions. It included learning about the International Space Station, practicing spacewalks, and flying in special jets. She also learned survival skills for water and wilderness.
Living and Working on the Space Station
On March 14, 2019, Christina Koch flew to the International Space Station (ISS). She joined the crew for Expeditions 59, 60, and 61.
She made history by performing the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir on October 18, 2019. They worked outside the ISS to upgrade its power systems. Koch and Meir did two more all-female spacewalks in January 2020.
Christina's mission was extended, and she stayed in space for 328 days. She returned to Earth on February 6, 2020. This set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. NASA used her extended stay to learn more about how long trips in space affect people. While on the mission, she even made the first edit to Wikipedia from space!
Journey to the Moon with Artemis II
Christina Koch was chosen for NASA's Artemis program. On April 3, 2023, she was announced as a mission specialist for the Artemis II crew. This historic mission launched on April 1, 2026.
The Artemis II crew flew by the Moon on April 6, 2026. They traveled 6,400 miles beyond the Moon's far side. The crew returned to Earth on April 10, 2026. Christina Koch became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and journey around the Moon. She flew with fellow NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
About Christina's Life
Christina Koch lives in Galveston, Texas, with her husband, Bob. He is a geospatial engineer. They met while she was exploring American Samoa in 2013.
Christina enjoys many hobbies. These include surfing, rock climbing, and ice climbing. She also likes yoga, backpacking, photography, and traveling. She is a big fan of Philadelphia sports teams. She even shared photos of herself watching games from the International Space Station!
Awards and Recognitions
Christina Koch has received many awards for her work. Some of these include:
- The NASA Group Achievement Award for her work on the Juno Mission (2012).
- The United States Congress Antarctic Service Medal (2005).
- The Astronaut Scholar award (2000–2001).
In December 2020, her old university, North Carolina State University, gave her an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree. In 2020, Time magazine also named her one of the 100 Most Influential People.
See also
In Spanish: Christina Koch para niños
