Ahead of her moon-bound NASA mission, explore a timeline of Christina Koch’s life and career.
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, three-time NC State alumna Christina Koch is scheduled to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on humanity’s first trip to the moon in over 50 years. If the weather holds, Koch and three other astronauts will launch on a 10-day trip that will include a lunar flyby before their Orion spacecraft returns to Earth.
Below is a timeline featuring highlights of Koch’s personal life, academic achievements and professional career.
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Jan. 29, 1979
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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1982
Moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina.
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1997
Graduated from North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham.
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2001
Graduated from NC State with a B.S. in electrical engineering.
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2002
Completed a B.S. in physics and an M.S. in electrical engineering, both at NC State.
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2002-2004
Worked as an electrical engineer in the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics at Goddard Space Flight Center.
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2004-2007
Worked as a research associate in the United States Antarctic Program.
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2007-2009
Worked as an electrical engineer in the Space Department of the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.
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2013
Selected as a NASA astronaut.
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2015
Completed NASA astronaut training.
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March 14, 2019
Launched to the International Space Station for a mission as a flight engineer.
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Oct. 18, 2019
Performed the first all-female spacewalk, with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.
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Feb. 6, 2020
Returned to Earth after 328 days in space, setting the world record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman.
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Dec. 4, 2020
Spoke at NC State’s fall commencement; awarded an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree.
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2023
Selected for the Artemis II mission to orbit the moon.
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2024
Named to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor awarded by the governor of North Carolina; also received the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor.
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April 1, 2026
Scheduled to launch on Artemis II.
