Christina Koch to Become First Woman to Fly Around the Moon

NASA astronaut Christina Koch is poised to become the first woman to fly beyond low Earth orbit as a member of the Artemis II mission. Scheduled for launch no earlier than April 1, 2026, the mission will also include NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, embarking on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. This mission serves as a critical step toward establishing a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, with future landings planned for Artemis IV in 2028 and beyond.

In a recent interview, Koch expressed her perspective on the mission: "It feels like an incredible privilege and responsibility [to be on Artemis II]. As a crew, I feel like we consolidated really quickly." She emphasized the importance of teamwork in preparing for this historic endeavor.

The Artemis II crew has arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, their final stop before launch. Traveling from Houston to Cape Canaveral in T-38 jets, they landed at the center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The astronauts have been in quarantine since March 20, adhering to pre-launch protocols.

The mission aims to test Orion's life support systems in space with astronauts on board. While the crew will not land on the Moon, they will fly around its far side on a free-return trajectory. This path allows Orion to travel to lunar space and return to Earth without major engine firings after its translunar injection burn, simplifying navigation and fuel management.