NASA astronaut shares image of impossible-looking 'hopper' crystal growing on the space station. What is happening? - Live Science

All four Artemis II astronauts have now moved on to different roles.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch is taking a new role at the agency after making history as the first woman to fly near the moon during the Artemis II mission in April. Thirteen years after being selected as an astronaut, Koch plans to trade her spacesuit for a desk, NASA announced. The news comes about six months after Koch was part of the four-person Artemis II crew that rode a NASA spacecraft on a 10-day journey toward the moon. The mission marked a landmark moment in U. S. spaceflight, becoming not just the first crewed moon mission in half-a-century, but taking the astronauts farther from Earth than anyone had ever been. With Koch's announcement, all four of those astronauts have now stepped away from spaceflight to eye new career opportunities. Here's what to know about Koch, as well as what's next for the record-setting NASA astronaut. Rocket launches: Rocket launches due to surge in next decade across USArtemis II astronaut takes on new role at NASAEffective Nov. 1, Koch will become NASA's acting deputy chief engineer, NASA announced in an Oct. 13 press release. Koch will replace Katherine Van Hooser, who served in the role for 35 years.