Artemis II Astronaut Christina Koch Jokes About Her Braids Being the 'First' to 'Leave Earth's Orbit'

The NASA astronaut is part of the first manned moon mission in over five decades.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:52pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and purples featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of space travel.As the first woman to journey to the moon in over 50 years, astronaut Christina Koch's historic mission continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.Cape Canaveral Today

Christina Koch, a NASA astronaut currently on the Artemis II mission, the first crewed moon mission since 1972, shared a photo from space joking that her braided hair may be the first to leave Earth's orbit. Fans and actress Jessica Alba, whose Honest Company lotion Koch requested, reacted with excitement to the historic moment.

Why it matters

Christina Koch's participation in the Artemis II mission as the first woman to be part of a space flight to the moon is a significant milestone for women in STEM and space exploration. Her lighthearted post about her braids leaving Earth's orbit resonates with the public and highlights the human side of this historic mission.

The details

In an Instagram post on April 6, Christina Koch shared a photo of herself gazing at the moon from inside the Artemis II spacecraft, with a strand of her braided hair visible. She joked that her braids may be the "first to leave Earth's orbit." Fans reacted with excitement, praising Koch's impact as a female astronaut. Actress Jessica Alba also responded emotionally after Koch requested Honest Company lotion, calling it a surreal moment for her brand.

  • Christina Koch launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 1 aboard Artemis II.
  • Koch shared the photo of her braids in space on April 6.
  • Jessica Alba reacted to Koch's Honest Company lotion request on April 7.

The players

Christina Koch

A NASA astronaut who is part of the Artemis II mission, the first crewed moon mission since 1972.

Jessica Alba

The founder of The Honest Company, a brand whose lotion was requested by astronaut Christina Koch during the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“First braids to leave Earth orbit. (unconfirmed)”

— Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut

“What? That is wild. This is a trip. This is a moment I never thought would be my real life. And so anyone out there who has any dreams of anything, just go after it, because you never know. I mean, your products can be in space.”

— Jessica Alba

What’s next

The Artemis II astronauts are set to journey around the far side of the moon and back in 10 days, marking the first mission of this nature since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The takeaway

Christina Koch's participation in the historic Artemis II mission as the first woman to be part of a space flight to the moon, and her lighthearted post about her braids leaving Earth's orbit, capture the public's imagination and inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM and space exploration.