NASA astronaut Christina Koch returns to Earth after 328-Day space mission
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Christina Koch landed safely in Kazakhstan on Thursday along with her two International Space Station crewmates. She had spent nearly 11 months in orbit, the longest spaceflight by a woman.
Soyuz capsule carrying Christina and her crewmates landed southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 3:12 pm on Thursday. Koch was accompanied by Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency Roscosmos’ Alexander Skvortsov.
Christina wrapped up her 328-day mission. It was her first flight into the space. The mission was to provide researchers the opportunity to observe the effects of long-duration spaceflight for a woman. It was an essential study for NASA as it planned to return to the moon under Artemis program and prepare for human exploration of Mars.
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Astronaut Christina Koch smiled and gave a thumbs-up as the support crew helped her get out of the capsule and took her for quick post-flight check-up alongside her crewmates.
NASA took to twitter and wrote: "A record-setting mission, the longest single spaceflight by a woman, 328 days in space. Christina Koch was up for the challenge! Join us in saying #CongratsChristina and get to know the inspiring astronaut who returned to Earth this morning."
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NASA scientist Jonny Kim said in a tweet: "Welcome home @Astro_Christina, @astro_luca
and Alexander Skvortsov. Thank you for your service, smashing barriers, and inspiring a generation. Thank you to the unsung heroes working behind the scenes that made their safe return possible."
Meanwhile, Christina took to twitter and wrote: "This journey has been everyone’s journey. Thank you to all involved in the success of our mission, and for giving me the opportunity to carry everyone’s dreams into space. I’m filled with gratitude to be back on the planet!"
https://www.ptcnews.tv/turkey-plane-crash-plane-skids-off-runway-istanbul-airport-3-dead-en/
Also, US Preisdent Donald Trump congratulated Christina. He wrote: "Welcome back to Earth, @Astro_Christina, and congratulations on breaking the female record for the longest stay in space! You’re inspiring young women and making the USA proud! Enjoyed speaking with you and @Astro_Jessica on the first all-female spacewalk IN HISTORY last year."
-PTC News
