NASA astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch was honored Wednesday with the Order of the Tar Heel, the highest award bestowed by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor. Koch, a Jacksonville native and N.C. State University graduate, became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, and with her crew broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled in space.
“Her accomplishments with NASA have made history, but her commitment to encouraging students to pursue STEM education may be among her most important contributions,” said Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, at the award ceremony at the historic Labor Building in downtown Raleigh.
The award recognizes Koch’s work with NASA as well as her ongoing advocacy for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
Koch said her mission would not have been possible without countless workers, all willing to contribute their unique talents to make the mission a success. A-B Emblem of Weaverville, North Carolina, was among the businesses recognized for producing the Artemis II patch, which was designed by the astronauts.
“I like to think we are a partnership because in NASA, so many jobs, high-skilled manufacturing and technical jobs, are created by a love of wanting to explore,” Koch said.
Developing a strong STEM workforce, starts with engaging students in science and math at a very young age.
As part of Wednesday’s special event, Koch took questions from two dozen enthusiastic elementary school students.
When you were my age, did you already know you wanted to be an astronaut?
“I did know I wanted to be an astronaut, but I also knew it was going to be really hard and probably not very likely,” Koch answered. “So, I went for my dream and I worked towards that goal. I also made sure that along the way I did things that I found really fun and that brought me joy.”
What’s your favorite planet, other than Earth?
“I like Jupiter! [It] has a huge magnetic field and beautiful lights like the auroras,” Koch said.
Just like the Northern lights, Koch said, the light will dance in the sky from the magnetic field of a whole planet.
“That happens on Jupiter just like it happens on Earth, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
What’s it feel like when you sleep upside down in space?
“Without gravity it feels the same as sleeping upside down as the right side up,” Koch said. “There’s no gravity to keep you in the bed. It’s just amazing.”
Could you see the dark side of the moon?
“It’s the far side of the moon. It’s never facing Earth, but the sun actually lights it up just as much as it lights up the side that faces us,” Koch said. “It was beautiful.”
Koch answered one last question from NC Newsline: What’s next for an astronaut who has seemingly achieved all her goals?
“I haven’t actually figured that one out,” she said.
In the short term, she plans to restore her family’s sailboat, a past time she enjoyed with her father growing up in Jacksonville.
“That actually has been one of the most exciting things that I’ve taken on recently — getting back to my family, and then trying something that scares me, which is what I always tell people they have to do.”
Koch said she hopes the students will embrace their own unique talents and find a way to give back to their community.
“You can make [it] happen when you’re supporting the people around you,” Koch said.
This article was originally published on NC Newsline.
Featured Image: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline
