Ghana is set to formally honour American astronaut Christina Hammock Koch following her historic journey around the Moon, in recognition of her achievements and connection to the country.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed that diplomatic arrangements are underway for President John Dramani Mahama to honour the astronaut at a mutually agreed time.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the gesture will be made on behalf of the Ghanaian people in appreciation of Koch’s role in a landmark space mission and her academic association with the University of Ghana.
He praised the crew of the Artemis II mission, describing their journey as a remarkable demonstration of scientific advancement and human courage.
The mission, organised by NASA, marked the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years, with astronauts travelling to the far side of the Moon before safely returning to Earth.
Koch, who served as a mission specialist aboard the Orion spacecraft, played a critical role in monitoring onboard systems, including life support, navigation, and communications. She also made history as the first woman to travel into deep space and complete a lunar flyby.
Her achievement has generated excitement in Ghana, where she previously studied under an exchange programme at the University of Ghana. The institution has since celebrated her milestone as a reflection of its global academic impact.
The Artemis II crew also included mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover — the first Black astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit — and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Together, the team conducted critical tests to pave the way for future missions aimed at returning humans to the Moon’s surface.
