How to get North Carolina students to love science and math? Ask a NASA astronaut.

By: Clayton Henkel

Outlets: North Carolina Newsline

Published: August 26, 2026

Words: 603

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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NASA astronaut and Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch was honored Wednesday with the Order of the Tar Heel, the highest award bestowed by the North Carolina Commissioner of Labor. Koch, a Jacksonville native and N.C. State University graduate, became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, and with her crew broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled in space.

“Her accomplishments with NASA have made history, but her …

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