During the 10-day space mission Artemis 2, millions of people worldwide were captivated, and the four astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen - became some of the most famous people in the world. Cameras aboard the Orion spacecraft allowed us to follow their daily activities: key moments of the lunar mission, such as their flyby of the moon and the risky reentry into the atmosphere, as well as their daily routines. Amidst the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, the astronauts shared numerous photos of Earth, sending a message of peace and unity whenever possible. This Wednesday, the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord was bestowed upon one of the most beloved crew members of that lunar adventure: the American Christina Koch, who served as a mission specialist.
"When we saw the small Earth, people asked us what impressions we had, and honestly what struck me was not necessarily the tiny Earth, but all the darkness around it. Earth was simply a lifeboat, undisturbed, in the universe. And now, there is something new that I know: Planet Earth, you are a crew," declared Koch during the crew's first appearance, the day after returning to Earth.
According to the Princess of Asturias Awards Jury, "Christina Koch's career has been highlighted as an inspiration for future generations - especially women - and a symbol of human capacity to overcome challenges and obstacles through work, collaboration, and empathy."
This 47-year-old astronaut, physicist, and electrical engineer was the first woman to participate in a lunar mission, and along with her three colleagues, set a record for the farthest distance from our planet, reaching 406,778 km from Earth. But before the mission that made her known worldwide, Koch had an extraordinary career in both the scientific and space fields.
Christina Koch (Hammock is her maiden name) was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as she has revealed, spent summers on her family's farm. From a young age, her parents instilled in her a passion for challenges and the importance of hard work. She studied engineering and physics at North Carolina State University and earned a master's degree in Electrical Engineering.
Her career at NASA began as an engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center, developing space science instruments in Antarctica and the Arctic between 2004 and 2007. Among her field expeditions, she spent a year at the US Admusen-Scott station in Antarctica and at the Palmer station. In 2007, she returned to developing scientific instruments at the Johns Hopkins University Space Department.
Koch worked for a period at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she continued her research at remote scientific bases until she was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013.
Before participating in Artemis 2, she had already spent 328 consecutive days in space. It was the longest spaceflight by a woman, surpassing the previous record held by her NASA colleague Peggy Whitson.
During her long stay on the ISS, Koch conducted six spacewalks, including the first three involving only women. One of them was surrounded by controversy as it had to be suspended in March 2019 because there was only one medium-sized suit available, not two as needed by the two selected astronauts - Anne McClain and Christina Koch.
As there was not enough time to receive another medium-sized suit, NASA announced that Anne McClain would be replaced by her colleague Nick Hague, who performed the spacewalk with Christina Koch. Finally, the first spacewalk by two women took place in October 2019 and was carried out by Koch and Jessica Meir.
After her long mission, during which she conducted numerous scientific experiments, Koch held a managerial position in the Astronaut Office until she was selected for Artemis 2 in 2024. The success of the mission was such that it would not be surprising if she were chosen for Artemis 4, the mission planning to land on the moon in 2028. Before that, in 2027, Artemis 3 is scheduled, a mission that will orbit Earth for two weeks and practice key maneuvers for landing. The crew members were announced last week.
Christina Koch is married to Robert 'Bob' Koch, who also works in the aerospace industry, and they live in Texas. Her hobbies include surfing, rock climbing, volunteering, running, yoga, backpacking, photography, and traveling.
The award ceremony, which includes a sculpture by Joan Miró and ¤50,000, will take place in October in a ceremony presided over by the King and Queen of Spain, the Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Doña Sofía.