An old video has resurfaced showing Christina Koch, a mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission, speaking about how her time studying in Ghana shaped her life.

In the said interview from 2023, Koch spoke about her study abroad programme at the University of Ghana, describing it as one of the most impactful experiences she has had.

Ghana to honour astronaut Christina Koch after historic Artemis II Moon mission

She explained that the programme, offered through her school, NC State, gave her a new perspective and left a lasting impression.

“My study abroad, I studied abroad in Ghana, and that was a specific program that NC State was one of only a few colleges to offer, and that was by far the most perspective-gaining and life-changing experience of my entire life, right up there with going to space,” she said.

Koch was part of the four-member crew on the Artemis II mission, a 10-day spaceflight that flew around the Moon and returned to Earth.

She was the only woman on board the Orion spacecraft during the mission.

She studied at the University of Ghana in 2009 as part of a study abroad programme, an experience she has consistently described as life-changing.

Meet the NASA astronaut on historic Artemis II mission who attended University of Ghana

In 2019, while aboard the International Space Station, Koch shared images of Ghana from space and spoke about her connection to the country.

She described Ghana as a beautiful country with amazing people and reflected on how her time there influenced her outlook on life.

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“My study abroad in Ghana🇬🇭 was by far the most perspective-gaining and life-changing experience of my entire life right after I was going to space." — Christiana Koch, Specialist of the NASA Artemis II mission and the only woman to travel to the moon.#VOKLive pic.twitter.com/NyGbNaTy7M

— 𝐕𝐎𝐊 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 (@Thevokofficial) April 25, 2026