Koch was among the four astronauts on the Artemis II mission, which orbited the Moon in April and is regarded as a likely candidate for upcoming missions to the lunar surface.
The US astronaut Christina Koch, who was the first woman to participate in a lunar mission, received on Wednesday a prestigious Spanish award for her role in «pushing the boundaries of humanity.»
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The jury awarding the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord highlighted that Koch’s career inspires future generations, especially women.
They noted it symbolizes «humanity’s capacity to face challenges and hardship through dedication, teamwork, and compassion.»
Koch, aged 47, was part of the four-member Artemis II crew that circled the Moon in April, marking the first such lunar flyby in over fifty years.
She is broadly seen as a strong contender for future manned missions to the lunar surface.
Those aboard Artemis II became the humans who ventured farthest from Earth, reaching a distance of 406,771 kilometers.
Koch holds the record for the longest space mission by a woman at 328 days and participated in the first all-female spacewalk with colleague Jessica Meir.
The €50,000 Concord Award is one of eight categories, including arts, sciences, and sports, presented yearly by the foundation named after Spain’s heir, Princess Leonor.
It recognizes actions promoting better human coexistence, solidarity, and international collaboration.
Past recipients include the Scottish charity Mary’s Meals, Spanish chef José Andrés, and Spain’s healthcare workers during the coronavirus crisis.
Additional sources • AFP