Former White Oak High School student Christina Koch returns to space on Artemis II mission

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Christina Koch, who was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, grew up in Jacksonville and attended White Oak High School. Koch and three other astronauts make up the Artemis II crew.

The crew is set to spend 10 days in space after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Marshall Smith, an engineering teacher at White Oak High School, said Koch’s journey should inspire students.

“That question of why not you is easily answered when somebody like Christina does something like this,” Smith said.

Smith said the fact that Koch attended White Oak High School makes it easier for students to envision their own success.

“It’s a lot easier to envision yourself doing something like going to the moon if someone who’s been in the same place and situation has done it before,” Smith said.

Jacksonville resident Michael Wilson said Koch’s accomplishments are notable for the city.

“It’s a small town, so it’s good to get representation of this high school in particular,” Wilson said.

White Oak High School has several displays honoring Koch’s accomplishments. The school dedicated a moon tree last month that traveled 1.4 million miles on Artemis I.

The Artemis II mission has the potential to be the furthest humans have ever traveled from Earth, according to a NASA expert.

Koch previously went to space in 2019 and was there for 328 days.