NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned to North Carolina State University for a homecoming celebration. The three-time alumna, who recently made history on the Artemis II mission, was honored with a dedicated campus building and a custom ice cream flavor during her multi-day visit.
Astronaut Christina Koch returned to her alma mater on Monday for a “welcome home”-style event at North Carolina State University. Koch, a three-time graduate of the institution who earned two degrees and a master’s, received a welcome following her journey around the moon earlier this year.
As part of the Artemis II mission in April, which saw her and three other astronauts leave Earth to travel around the moon, Koch became the first woman to leave low Earth orbit and the first woman to travel to and around the moon. Her flight marked the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, which was the final mission of NASA’s Apollo program.
Koch Hall and Howl at the Moon Ice Cream Unveiled on Centennial Campus
The university commemorated Koch’s visit by renaming Engineering Building II as Koch Hall, a place Koch said she spent a lot of time during her studies at NC State. Some students stopped to take pictures of new signs outside the building, and Koch told the crowd she was surprised so many students were able to skip their labs to see her.
I always hope that the people walking by it don't ever feel like they're not enough,
Koch said. Whereas a building becomes the vernacular of people's lives and speaks more to a process for me and not necessarily being a finished product the moment you walk in.
Students, space lovers and science fans came to support Koch at a sold-out event in her honor titled Around the Moon and Pack Again
on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Students like Bell Long, an NC State chemical engineering student, were inspired by what Koch and her fellow Artemis II astronauts did when they flew around the moon, the farthest anyone has ever gone. It's just so inspirational to see what she has accomplished from having a degree from NC State in engineering,
said Long. Koch spent an hour answering questions from the media between noon and 1 p.m. at Duke Energy Hall, where WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner was present, and the complete address can be watched on YouTube.
In another sweet treat to celebrate Koch’s exploration, a limited-edition Howling Cow ice cream flavor, ‘Howl at the Moon,’ was unveiled. The flavor will be available at Talley Student Union and Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery, adding a local culinary tribute to the astronaut’s lunar voyage.
Campus Events and Livestreamed Discussions
Cardinal & Pine reported on the homecoming festivities, noting that university leadership organized a series of events across campus. The celebration kicked off with a Welcome Home Celebration at The Oval on Centennial Campus on Monday morning.
NC State University’s release highlighted the collective pride of the community, stating, We’re perhaps most excited to celebrate the moments when Koch and her crew brought all of us together — as humans, as Americans, as North Carolinians and as a Wolfpack — as we followed along with their [Artemis II] journey.
Koch also highlighted her connection to the Wolfpack by echoing a sentiment she shared during their space flight: Like she said during their space flight, ‘Ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.’ That’s a sentiment that we know our Wolfpack can get behind.
On Tuesday, Koch will attend private events for students and faculty across campus, including a student-led conversation about wellness, grit and self-trust
and a presentation about higher education with NC State’s chancellor. Koch shared a video message with students at Packapalooza on Saturday, saying, “I hope to see many of you there on Monday and Tuesday as I visit some of my favorite places on campus. We’ll share stories, do a little rock climbing, and if all goes according to plan, enjoy some Howling Cow ice cream, which I hear is much better than astronaut ice cream.” Both of Tuesday’s events are closed to the public, but a list of those events can be found online and they will also be livestreamed, alongside a Spotify playlist to help ring in Koch’s long-anticipated homecoming.
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