Safety · Oviedo and Houston
Christina Koch, first woman to travel beyond Earth orbit, wins 2026 Princess of Asturias Concord Award
The NASA astronaut, who orbited the Moon on Artemis II and holds the record for the longest female spaceflight, has been named the laureate of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord.
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In brief
Koch became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and circle the Moon during the Artemis II mission.
She holds the record for the longest female spaceflight (328 days) and conducted the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir.
The ten-day mission was followed by millions, with on-board cameras broadcasting the lunar flyby and daily life.
With wars in Iran and Ukraine, the crew's images of Earth and Koch's statement that 'Earth is a crew' resonated globally.
- 29 JanBorn in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- 1 AprLaunches on Artemis II as first woman to orbit the Moon.
- 17 JunAwarded Princess of Asturias Award for Concord 2026.
Announcement in Oviedo
The jury, meeting at the Hotel Eurostars de La Reconquista in Oviedo, selected Koch from 36 candidacies representing 16 nationalities. The verdict was read on Wednesday, 17 June, making this the final of eight international awards in the foundation's 46th edition.
A record-setting career
Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days) and performed the first all-female spacewalk alongside Jessica Meir, lasting more than seven hours. Before Artemis II, she flew on multiple expeditions to the International Space Station between 2019 and 2020.
The Artemis II mission
Alongside Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen, Koch launched aboard the Orion spacecraft on 1 April 2026. The ten-day mission pushed the crew to 406,778 km from Earth, breaking distance records. On-board cameras streamed the lunar flyby and daily routines to millions worldwide.
A message from the Moon
During her first press conference after returning, Koch described Earth as a lifeboat in the vast darkness. "Planet Earth, you are a crew," she said, a message of unity that resonated while wars continued in Iran and Ukraine.
“Planet Earth, you are a crew.”
The Concord award
The Princess of Asturias Award for Concord honours the defence of human dignity, peace and solidarity. The foundation cited Koch's contribution to the progress of humanity through her historic missions and her ability to inspire a sense of global togetherness.
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Sources and context
- eldiario.esLa astronauta estadounidense Christina Koch, Premio Princesa de Asturias de la Concordia 2026
- La RazónLa astronauta Christina Koch, que viajó en la misión Artemis II, Premio Princesa de Asturias de la Concordia
- europa pressLa astronauta estadounidense Christina Koch, Premio Princesa de...
- EL MUNDOLa astronauta de la NASA Christina Koch gana el premio Princesa de Asturias de la Concordia
- Christina Koch
- NASA astronaut and mission specialist on Artemis II, winner of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord.
- Reid Wiseman
- Commander of the Artemis II mission.
- Victor Glover
- Pilot of the Artemis II mission.
- Jeremy Hansen
- Mission specialist on Artemis II.
- Jessica Meir
- NASA astronaut who performed the first all-female spacewalk with Christina Koch.
- Peggy Whiston
- Previous record holder for the longest female spaceflight, surpassed by Koch.
- Places
- Houston
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