The Ghana flag has been flown in space following one of the four astronauts selected for NASA’s historic Artemis II mission studying at the University of Ghana some three decades ago.
Christina Koch, who once studied at the University of Ghana as an international student, has flown the flag of Ghana in space.
Christina Koch was part of the crew that orbited the Moon under Artemis II.
Nearly three decades ago (1999), Christina Koch undertook a study-abroad programme at the University of Ghana while pursuing her undergraduate studies in the United States.
In a post shared on X in 2019, Christina Koch stated, “20 years ago, I was studying abroad at the @UnivofGh. Like spaceflight, it was a positive, life-changing, perspective-deepening experience. Seeing the beauty of Ghana from space reminds me of the amazing people I met there and how, in exploring the world, we learn about ourselves.”
In recent times, the University of Ghana (UG) has celebrated its alumna in a series of posts shared on April 3, 2026.
The University of Ghana stated, “The International Programmes Office of UG is proud to celebrate Christina Koch, NASA astronaut, record-breaker, and one of our exchange alumni”.
“Before making history as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit on Artemis II, Christina walked our campus, calling her time here ‘life-changing and perspective-deepening. 328 days in space. First all-female spacewalk. Now circling the Moon as the only woman on the Artemis II crew,” it added.
Also, a post by the BBC News Africa also stated, “Before making history as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit on Artemis II, Christina walked our campus.”
The University of Ghana has celebrated astronaut Christina Koch, the only woman on the four-person Artemis II crew, which orbited the Moon.
The mission’s spacecraft, the Orion spacecraft, broke the record for human spaceflight distance on Monday, surpassing the 1970 Apollo 13 mission record of 248,655 miles (400,000km).
The four astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission are now returning to Earth after a lunar fly-by that took them farther from Earth than any humans before”.
“Artemis II is designed as a critical test mission with humans on board, aimed at testing Orion’s life-support and safety systems, evaluating deep-space navigation and communication systems, and ensuring astronauts can safely travel to and from the Moon.
The mission also sets the stage for Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the lunar surface. Historic milestones are expected, including sending the first woman and the first person of African descent on a lunar mission,” the report stated.
See the post below:
American Astronaut, Christina Koch studied Astrophysics at the University of Ghana 🇬🇭.
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) April 5, 2026
She is on track to become the first woman to travel to the vicinity of the Moon. pic.twitter.com/Ng0WHoLb5w