{
  "id": 14296970,
  "title": "NASA Names Astronaut Christina Koch Acting Deputy Chief Engineer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/nasa-names-astronaut-christina-koch-acting-deputy-chief-engineer",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-13T20:41:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-names-astronaut-christina-koch-acting-deputy-chief-engineer/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA has appointed astronaut Christina Koch to serve as the agency's acting deputy chief engineer starting November 1, 2026, following the retirement of Katherine Van Hooser. Koch's new role will see her leading NASA's engineering community, overseeing technical oversight, mission readiness, and engineering excellence across the agency's programs and projects. As acting deputy chief engineer, Koch will transition to management astronaut status and will no longer be eligible for future spaceflight assignments.\n\nKoch, a mission specialist aboard NASA's Artemis II mission, spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station and set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with 328 consecutive days in space. Before her selection as an astronaut in 2013, Koch worked as an electrical engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, developing scientific instruments for space missions. She has also held leadership positions within NASA's Astronaut Office and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.\n\nVan Hooser, who will conclude her 35-year career at NASA on October 21, 2026, joined the agency in 1991 as a propulsion engineer and technical leader. In her role as the first chief engineer for the Space Launch System's Liquid Engines Element, she guided engineering efforts through the final shuttle flights and provided critical technical leadership for NASA's Artemis missions. Van Hooser's leadership has strengthened NASA's engineering community and helped guide the agency through critical milestones and transitions.",
  "summary": "NASA engineer and astronaut Christina Koch will serve as the agency’s acting deputy chief engineer beginning on Sunday, Nov. 1, following the retirement of Katherine Van Hooser, who will conclude more than 35 years of distinguished service to the agency on Wednesday, Oct. 21. In her new role, Koch will help lead NASA’s engineering community, […] The post NASA Names Astronaut Christina Koch Acting…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA",
        "title": "NASA Names Astronaut Christina Koch Acting Deputy Chief Engineer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/nasa-names-astronaut-christina-koch-acting-deputy-chief-engineer-14296980",
        "published": "2026-10-13T20:41:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}