Artemis II Astronaut Christina Koch Steps Down From Active Duty to Become NASA Deputy Chief Engineer

NASA has announced that Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch will step down from active astronaut duty to become the agency’s acting deputy chief engineer, effective November 1. With this transition to management status, Koch is no longer eligible for future spaceflight assignments. She succeeds Katherine Van Hooser, who is retiring after more than 35 years with the agency.

Koch brings extensive technical background to the role, holding degrees in electrical engineering and physics. Selected as an astronaut candidate in 2013, her career includes a record-breaking 328-day flight to the International Space Station and the Artemis II lunar mission. In her new position, she will support technical oversight, mission readiness, and engineering excellence across NASA programs.

The rest of the Artemis II crew have also transitioned away from immediate flight roles. Mission commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover became emeritus astronauts, with Glover taking a full-time position at California Polytechnic State University. Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency became a reservist and colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force.