JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — A Jacksonville native who made history in space will receive one of the nation’s highest honors for astronauts Friday, Aug. 28.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch and the rest of the Artemis II crew will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT Friday.
Koch grew up in Jacksonville and attended White Oak High School before later graduating from N.C. State University.
She joined NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on the historic Artemis II mission earlier this year.
The crew completed its 10-day mission around the moon on April 10.
NASA said the astronauts became the first people in more than 50 years to travel beyond the moon and traveled farther into space than any humans before them.
President Donald Trump is expected to present the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew during Friday’s ceremony.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is also expected to attend.
The Congressional Space Medal of Honor recognizes astronauts for exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity.
Friday’s ceremony will be streamed live through NASA.