Featured image courtesy NASA. Pictured: NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch work on U.S. spacesuits
By Wes O’Donnell
Managing Editor, In Space News, InCyberDefense, and In Military
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is the new record holder for the single longest space mission by a woman, besting NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
On Saturday, December 28, Koch exceeded Wilson’s record of 289 days, five hours and one minute. What’s more, she still has six weeks before she returns home.
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Koch is scheduled to land on February 6, 2020, logging 328 days in space. This will be just 12 days short of the single longest space mission by any NASA astronaut — a record 340 days set by astronaut Scott Kelly in 2016.
Five and a half years ago, @AstroPeggy took time to attend my first ever spacewalk training run as a mentor. It is beyond an honor to follow in her footsteps today. I can’t wait to pay it forward to the next explorers and watch them fly even higher. pic.twitter.com/jcrsWFp2D3
— Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) December 30, 2019
This Is Koch’s Second Record for NASA
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1979, Koch graduated from the NASA Academy at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in 2001 and was selected for NASA’s Astronaut Group 21 in June of 2013.
Currently, Koch serves as the Expedition 61 flight engineer, and this is the second record that Koch has set during what is her first spaceflight. Last October, Koch and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir became the first two women to perform a spacewalk together.
For NASA Astronaut Christina H. Koch’s full bio, visit NASA’s astronaut page.
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