Christina Hammock Koch was born on January 29, 1979, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where her parents encouraged her to pursue her interests in science and technology. Koch earned Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from the same institution.
Koch started her career at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as an engineer, where she contributed to the creation of research tools for several space science projects. Before becoming an astronaut, she served at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as station chief for American Samoa.
Christina Koch is an American engineer and NASA astronaut who has made history multiple times during her career. Her impressive achievements have included participating in the first all-female spacewalk, breaking the record for the longest continuous time spent in space by a woman, and becoming the first woman to orbit the moon. Her work and dedication to science and space exploration have not only inspired millions of people around the world, but also showcased the power of hard work and perseverance.
Who Is Christina Koch’s Husband?
Koch is married to her husband Robert Koch, also known as Bob Koch. The couple first met at American Samoa, where they were both starting their careers. Bob served as a contractor for the government at that time. The couple got married in October 2015 and currently reside in Texas. They do not have any children as of now.
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Christina Koch’s Career As NASA Astronaut
Koch joined NASA in 2013 and completed her training in July 2015, making her available for future missions. Her training included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T‐38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training.
On March 14, 2019, Koch launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Soyuz MS-12, alongside Aleksey Ovchinin and Nick Hague, to join the Expedition 59/60/61 crew. She was scheduled to perform her first extravehicular activity (EVA) on March 29, which would have been the first all-female spacewalk alongside Anne McClain, but spacesuit sizing issues resulted in it being reassigned from McClain to Hague.
On October 18, 2019, Koch and Jessica Meir participated in the first all-female spacewalk, replacing a power controller unit located outside of the ISS. Koch and Meir followed the historic walk with two more female team walks in January 2020.
Koch broke the record for the longest continuous time spent in space by a woman on December 28, 2019. She spent 328 days, 18 hours, and 14 minutes in space, conducting experiments and performing maintenance on the ISS.
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Know About Koch’s Moon Mission
In April 2023, Koch was announced as part of a four-person team that will be the first humans to visit the moon in more than 50 years. The mission, known as NASA Artemis 2, will see Koch and her crewmates flying a capsule around the moon. Although they will not land on the moon, their mission will clear the path for a subsequent crew to do so. Koch will become the first woman to orbit the moon, and her crewmate Victor Glover will be the first African-American astronaut on a lunar mission.