Mission Specialist
Christina Koch
First woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit. Holds the record for longest single spaceflight by a woman — 328 days on the ISS.
Biography
Christina Koch made history on Artemis II as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon. She already held the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman — 328 consecutive days aboard the ISS during Expedition 59/60/61 — and participated in the first all-female spacewalk alongside Jessica Meir in 2019. Before NASA, Koch worked in remote Antarctic stations, training that mirrors the isolation required for deep space. Artemis II cemented her place as one of the most decorated astronauts of her generation.
Specialization
Previous Missions
- Expedition 59/60/61 (ISS, 2019–2020)
Did You Know
Koch worked in remote Antarctic research stations before becoming an astronaut — isolation and self-reliance training that directly prepared her for the mental demands of deep space.
