Artemis II Astronaut Christina Koch Jokes About Her Braids Being the 'First' to 'Leave Earth's Orbit'

Catherine SantinoThu, April 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM UTC

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Christina Koch's braids in space; Christina KochCredit: NASA via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty -

Christina Koch shared a photo from space, joking about her braided hair being the first to leave Earth's orbit

Jessica Alba reacted emotionally after Koch requested Honest Company lotion, calling it a surreal moment for her brand

Koch is part of Artemis II, the first crewed moon mission since 1972, set to journey around the moon in 10 days

The Artemis II space mission is making history yet again.

In addition to being the first woman to be part of a space flight to the moon, Christina Koch may have just worn the first braids in space.

On Monday, April 6, the NASA astronaut, who is currently on the first manned moon mission in over five decades, shared a photo of herself gazing at the moon from inside the spacecraft. A strand of her braided hair is visible in the shot.

"First braids to leave Earth orbit. (unconfirmed)," Koch, 47, captioned the Instagram post.

Fans were quick to share their amazement at the image.

"Oh this is spectacular," one shared.

"Posting to IG from space is such a cool flex. Godspeed on your mission," said another.

Others shared heartfelt messages about Koch's impact as a female astronaut.

"On behalf of every little girl I’ve ever taught, ever will teach, & for the little girl in every woman on Earth (including me), thank you @astro_christina ✨ We are all looking up to you, and looking forward for us," one user wrote.

Koch made headlines when Jessica Alba responded to the astronaut's request for hand lotion from Alba's The Honest Company.

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The actress, 44, shared an Instagram Reel on Tuesday, April 7, reacting to a clip capturing the astronaut's care package ask.

“Yes, this one might take some digging," Koch is heard saying in the clip. "I’m looking for a specific community hygiene item that is Honest lotion."

As the clip plays, Alba is smiling in surprise and excitement.

“What? That is wild," Alba begins her response to Koch's request for The Honest Company's hand lotion as she tears up.

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Alba went on to recount her inspiration for creating the company to ensure "safer products," noting that the company takes its name in homage to her teen daughter, Honor.

Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover.Credit: NASA via Getty

"And then… now it’s in space! What?" Alba continued. "That is wild. This is a trip. This is a moment I never thought would be my real life. And so anyone out there who has any dreams of anything, just go after it, because you never know. I mean, your products can be in space."

Alba founded the company in 2012, and served as Chief Creative Officer until 2024.

Koch is one of the four astronauts who launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 1 aboard Artemis II on a historic journey. The astronauts plan to venture around the far side of the moon and back in 10 days—marking the first mission of this nature since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”