NASA Astronaut Christina Koch’s Secret Trick to Decompress After Artemis II
The Artemis II astronaut told CNET how she adjusts to life back on Earth. She also spoke about AI, engineering and support for STEM students.
Astronaut Christina Koch's recommendation for decompressing after a 10-day journey through outer space is to disconnect from the online world and focus on journaling. During her Artemis II mission, Koch spent the first week writing about the mission without viewing any photos. Upon returning, she compared the process of coming home to a military deployment, noting that reintegrating to Earth is a physical and mental process.
She chose not to view the photos for a few weeks, as she believed the snaps were already world-famous. The Artemis II crew's photos and live TV appearances garnered over 18 million viewers, marking the trip as a record-breaking event. Koch became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, with Glover becoming the first Black person and Hansen the first Canadian to do so.
She also holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. As a female astronaut, Koch has become a role model for women and girls in STEM, drawing inspiration from her meeting with astronaut Sally Ride. Her education at North Carolina State University played a significant role in her achievement, but her experience working for the school's student newspaper helped develop her photography skills.
The Artemis II mission kickstarted a new era of space exploration, with four more Artemis missions planned before the decade's end.
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