Amid a midst of major scientific breakthroughs, Christina Koch – an American engineer and NASA astronaut – has been named the first woman to journey around the Moon as a crew member on board Artemis II.
The Artemis Program is a Moon exploration program hosted by NASA, aiming to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term, sustainable presence in space. The program is young, beginning only in 2022, and as of April, NASA has successfully launched Artemis’ second mission: Artemis II. The mission’s purpose was to conduct a test flight ensuring that all systems were working correctly before going forward with the program. On board, four astronauts completed the 10-day flyby mission, orbiting the Moon whilst taking photos, conducting pilot tests, evaluating systems, and giving audiences on Earth a glimpse into the inner workings of space travel.
The Artemis II crew consisted of four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Christina Koch – who were chosen to venture around the Moon. And, in addition to their dedication and contribution to NASA’s mission, they successfully broke records for women around the globe. Now, Christina Koch will be known as the first woman to orbit the Moon.
But Koch is no stranger to breaking records. As a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station – or ISS – in 2019, she, alongside Jessica Meir, helped to conduct the first ever all-women spacewalk. Whilst doing so, they conducted various replacements and systematic tasks, furthering NASA research while simultaneously representing women in America.
Now, on the Orion, NASA’s spacecraft designed for Artemis missions, Christina Koch continues to make history.
Koch’s record-breaking journey inspired many women across the globe. Her bravery and motivational sentiments have served as a catalyst for discussion surrounding human connection and female empowerment. On returning to Earth, she made multiple public remarks regarding her travels. During an event in Texas, she mentioned, “I know I haven’t learned everything that this journey has yet to teach me, but there’s one thing I know, and that is, planet Earth, you are a crew.” She emphasizes the role of collaboration as a key factor in the enjoyment and satisfaction resulting from her journey around the Moon. Her words had great impact, reminding audiences of the importance of acceptance and compassion. Yes, there is much more to learn about the various mysteries of the universe; however, in order to solve them, humans must learn to work among one another, inspiring teamwork globally.
Christina Koch’s achievement serves as a constant reminder that limits can (and will) be broken, especially for women. Moving forward, women in STEM will continue to be acknowledged and heard by many, and their accomplishments will contribute greatly to the progression of the scientific world
