Christina Koch is best known as an American engineer and NASA astronaut. See her photos here.
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Christina Koch has etched her name into the books of history. On Feb. 6, 2020, the North Carolina-native touched down in Kazakhstan after spending 328 days in space. It broke the record for the longest single space flight conducted by a woman. The previous record holder, Peggy Whitson, was in space for 288 days, a record that Christina smashed. If that wasn’t enough, Christina made history while IN space. She and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir conducted the first all-female spacewalk. While aboard the International Space Station, Christina conducted a total of six spacewalks, and spent about 42 hours outside the station. Her 328-day mission was a way for NASA to observe how the lack of gravity affected bone and muscle loss in women. Her mission will provide information that may lead to humans setting foot on Mars someday soon. Though, right now, Christina is ready to return home to Texas, eat some Mexican food, spend some time with her husband, and go surfing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Christina Koch Touches Down
Christina Koch leaves the Russian Soyuz MS-13 space capsule after landing in a remote area southeast of Zhezkazgan in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan on February 6, 2020. This was her face after her record-setting flight in space.
Christina Koch Gets Taken Home
After 300+ days in space, Christina Koch’s body isn’t used to gravity. The loss of bone and muscle mass will be studied (and it’s why she’s being carried here instead of walking.)
Christina Koch Gets Ready To Take A Walk
NASA, astronauts Christina Koch (right) and, Jessica Meir pose on the International Space Station. These two conducted the first ever all-female space walk in October 2019.
Christina Koch Says Good-Bye Before Going Up In Space
Christina Koch gestures to her relatives from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz MS-12 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan in March 2019. A year later, she’d be back on terra firma.