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Climbing Into Space

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Christina Koch at NC State.

Aug 24, 2026

A New Name at Home

NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned to the campus where she earned three degrees, welcomed by a cheering crowd, a renamed building with her name on it and a limited-edition taste of her own Howling Cow ice cream.
Christina Koch in front of the newly named Koch Hall on Centennial Campus.

Aug 24, 2026

A New Addition to Campus Landmarks Named After Women

NC State’s newest building to honor a woman is one of many such landmarks on and off campus, a tradition that goes all the way back to the school’s first female employee in 1889.
Plant Sciences Building operations manager Geoff Bock next to the "Moon Tree."

Aug 24, 2026

A Moon Tree Planted in Honor of a Moon Visitor

One of NC State’s newest trees, a 6-foot-tall loblolly pine on Centennial Campus, is the descendant of an original 1971 Moon Tree, whose seed flew on Apollo 14. It was planted in honor of NASA astronaut and three-time graduate Christina Koch.
Christina Koch and her crewmates pose on a balcony overlooking Times Square in New York City.

Aug 19, 2026

Putting Her Feet Back on the Ground

First, she reached for the stars. Then she became one, crushing the glass ceiling as she broke free of the pull of Earth’s gravity. Christina Hammock Koch, NASA astronaut and NC State-educated engineer, and her Artemis II crewmates flew farther from Earth’s bounds than anyone in human history, a 10-day trip in April that marked…
NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist is assisted off the flight deck after arriving aboard USS John P. Murtha following a successful 10-day journey around the moon.

Apr 15, 2026

A Joyous Return to Earth

NC State alumna and NASA astronaut Christina Koch and her three crewmates splashed down Friday evening after a 10-day trip around the moon.
Christina Koch looks down at the Earth from the window of the Orion spacecraft.

Apr 9, 2026

Koch Eager for Splashdown

Three-time NC State graduate and Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch and the other three members of the crew are headed back to Earth following NASA’s first return to the moon in more than 50 years.
Christina Koch and her fellow crew members prepare to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket as part of a demonstration test in 2025.

Apr 1, 2026

See You on the Dark Side of the Moon

Three-time NC State graduate Christina Koch and her three Artemis II crewmates will blast off to the moon as early as Wednesday evening.
Christina Koch mingles with students during a visit to NC State.

Apr 1, 2026

From the Brickyard to the Moon: Christina Koch Through the Years

Ahead of her moon-bound NASA mission, explore a timeline of Christina Koch's life and career.

Chancellor Woodson and NASA astronaut Christina Koch sit on stage at Stewart Theatre with a starry background behind them. The image also contains the Red Chair Chats graphic, which says "Red Chair Chats with Chancellor Woodson. Special guest: Christina Koch"

Dec 14, 2023

To the Moon: Chancellor Woodson Talks Artemis II and Chasing Dreams with NASA Astronaut Christina Koch

NASA astronaut and three-time NC State alum Christina Koch joins Chancellor Woodson for the first live episode of Red Chair Chats and previews the Artemis II mission, slated to orbit the moon in fall 2024.
Chancellor Randy Woodson delivers this "state of NC State" address on Oct. 23, 2023.

Oct 13, 2023

2023 Chancellor’s Fall Address

On Oct. 23, Chancellor Woodson reflected on the last year at NC State, looked to the future — and welcomed an out-of-this-world guest for a live edition of Red Chair Chats.
The flight crew of Artemis II: Mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

Apr 4, 2023

‘We’re Headed for the Moon’

Just after Christina Koch learned last month that she had been selected for NASA’s Artemis II project — becoming the first woman to travel around the moon and back as part of a four-member crew — the pioneering NASA astronaut and three-time NC State graduate was told to limit sharing the news to only a…
Astronaut Christina Koch gives a press conference

Feb 12, 2020

Climbing Into Space

Of the many things NASA astronaut Christina Koch learned while earning three degrees at NC State, one of the most useful was her first foray onto the rock climbing wall at Carmichael Gymnasium.