Christina Koch to trade space missions for engineering role in NASA leadership post

Faith Wardwell, The News & Observer on Oct 15, 2026

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NASA astronaut Christina Koch is taking on a new role that will keep her in Earth’s orbit, for now.

Seven months after she made history by becoming the first woman to journey around the moon, Koch will become NASA’s acting deputy chief engineer in November. The post will make her ineligible for future spaceflights, the agency announced Tuesday.

Koch — an N.C. State University alumna who grew up in Jacksonville, N.C. — will helm NASA’s engineering community by supporting “technical oversight, mission readiness, and engineering excellence” across the space agency’s projects, according to a release. She takes the position as NASA sets its sights on establishing a permanent presence on the moon and bringing humans to Mars within the next decade.

“Christina has seen NASA engineering from both sides of the equation: developing complex systems on the ground and trusting them with her life in space,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. “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.”

He added, “I am excited to see the impact she will have across NASA as we return Americans to the lunar surface, build the Moon Base, get underway on nuclear power in space, and develop the capabilities that will ultimately take us on to Mars.”

Koch will replace Katherine Van Hooser in the role, who will retire shortly after her 35-year anniversary at NASA on Oct. 21.

Koch embraces Raleigh roots upon return to Earth

Koch’s appointment comes months after her return from the first crewed flight around the moon in more than 50 years.

Upon her return, she was welcomed back to Earth with the unveiling of an NCSU campus building in her honor, as well as an ice cream flavor named after her in honor or her moon mission, The News & Observer previously reported.

“I will keep coming back,” Koch said during the visit to Raleigh. “Not just for ribbon cuttings, but for office hours. For the students in the fourth row who think they’re the only ones in the room who don’t understand, and maybe haven’t been told yet that’s not a disqualification.”