NASA engineer and astronaut Christina Koch will take on the role of acting deputy chief engineer for the agency starting Sunday, November 1. She succeeds Katherine Van Hooser, who is retiring on Wednesday, October 21, after more than 35 years of service to the agency.
A Historic Career in Space
Koch most recently served as a mission specialist on the Artemis II mission in April, helping execute the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. Before that, she spent 328 consecutive days on the International Space Station, establishing the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and taking part in the first all-female spacewalks.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted her unique perspective, noting that she has developed complex systems on the ground and trusted them with her life in space. “After spending nearly a year living and working aboard the International Space Station and helping lead America back around the Moon on Artemis II this year, she brings an extraordinary combination of technical expertise, operational experience, and judgment to this role,” Isaacman said. He added that her impact will be felt as the agency works to return Americans to the lunar surface, build the Moon Base, initiate nuclear power in space, and develop capabilities for reaching Mars.
Engineering Roots and Leadership
Koch began her career at NASA as an electrical engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where she developed scientific instruments for space missions. Prior to being selected as an astronaut in 2013, she worked in scientific field engineering in the Arctic and Antarctica. She has also held leadership roles at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and within NASA’s Astronaut Office.
Katherine Van Hooser’s Legacy
Van Hooser’s career at NASA began in 1991 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Her early work centered on liquid rocket engine turbomachinery, and she eventually became the chief engineer for the space shuttle main engine, guiding engineering efforts through the program's final 21 flights. She was also the first chief engineer for the Space Launch System’s Liquid Engines Element, advancing propulsion systems for the Artemis missions. She has served as NASA’s deputy chief engineer since 2023.
Amit Kshatriya, NASA associate administrator and chief engineer, praised Van Hooser's unwavering commitment to mission success and her guidance through critical milestones. “Christina brings a unique combination of engineering expertise, operational experience, and proven leadership, both on the ground and in space,” Kshatriya said, expressing confidence that Koch will maintain the agency's tradition of technical excellence.
Transition to Management
In her new position, Koch will help lead the agency's engineering community, providing technical oversight and supporting mission readiness across NASA programs. Because this appointment transitions her to management astronaut status, Koch will no longer be eligible for future spaceflight assignments. More information about the agency's missions is available on the NASA website.
This article was written by AI from reporting by nasa.gov.
