Grand Rapids native and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Christina Koch is planning to trade her spacesuit for a desk as she takes on a new role as the acting deputy chief engineer, the federal space agency announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Koch, the first woman to fly near the moon during the Artemis II mission in April
, will transition to management astronaut status and is no longer be eligible for future spaceflight assignments.The change, effective on Sunday, Nov. 1, follows the retirement of Katherine Van Hooser, who worked at NASA for 35 years.
“Christina has seen NASA engineering from both sides of the equation: developing complex systems on the ground and trusting them with her life in space,” said NASA Administrator
Jared Isaacman. “After spending nearly a year living and working aboard the International Space Station and helping lead America back around the Moon on Artemis II this year, she brings an extraordinary combination of technical expertise, operational experience, and judgment to this role. I am excited to see the impact she will have across NASA as we return Americans to the lunar surface, build the Moon Base, get underway on nuclear power in space, and develop the capabilities that will ultimately take us on to Mars.”
Koch, 47, most recently served as a mission specialist aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission in April.
The 10-day journey featured four astronauts who traveled up to 6,000 miles beyond the lunar surface to the far side of the moon.
She previously spent 328 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station, setting the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and participating in the first all-female spacewalks.
Koch's Michigan ties
Koch was born in Grand Rapids, located on the west side of the state.
She grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and resided in Livingston, Montana, when she was selected to join the Astronaut Corps, herNASA bio reads.
She grew up spending summers on her family's farm in Michigan. Her hobbies include surfing, rock climbing, community service, running, yoga, backpacking, photography and travel.
Where did Koch receive her education?
Koch attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and physics and a master of science degree in electrical engineering.
Koch also studied abroad at the University of Ghana.
Koch's experience includes ISS spacewalk
Koch most recently served as a flight engineer on board the International Space Station as part of Expedition 59, 60, and 61, according to NASA.
She made history in 2019 when she conducted the first all-female spacewalk at the International Space Station.
Koch alsospent almost all of 2019 in space during her first and only mission totaling 328 days, a record for the longest spaceflight for any American woman.
Just three other NASA astronauts have been on longer single missions than she has.
Space Connect reporter Eric Lagatta contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NASA astronaut Christina Koch trades in spacesuit for desk job
