A former student of the University of Ghana has made history as part of a landmark lunar mission led by NASA.
Christina Koch is among the crew of the Artemis II mission, which has become the first crewed flight to orbit the Moon in more than 50 years.
She is also the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
The astronaut, who previously studied at the University of Ghana as an exchange student, carried the Ghanaian flag on the mission a gesture that has drawn widespread praise in the West African country.
Officials at the university say the move symbolises her connection to Ghana and has inspired many young people to pursue careers in science and technology.
The Artemis II mission is part of NASA’s broader plan to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
The crew also includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen.
Koch is no stranger to record-breaking achievements. She previously spent 328 days aboard the International Space Station, the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
Her latest mission marks another milestone not only for space exploration, but also for international representation, with Ghana’s flag now symbolically carried into lunar orbit.
