NASA appoints astronaut Christina Koch as acting deputy chief engineer

nasa.gov reports that Christina Koch will serve as NASA's acting deputy chief engineer beginning on Sunday, Nov. 1 1. The appointment follows the retirement of Katherine Van Hooser, who concluded more than 35 years of service on Oct. 21 1. In her new role, Koch will help lead NASA's engineering community by providing technical oversight, mission readiness, and engineering excellence across programs and projects 1. She will transition to management astronaut status and will no longer be eligible for future spaceflight assignments 1. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Koch's combined technical expertise, operational experience, and judgment 1.

Why it matters. Because she will no longer be eligible for future spaceflight assignments, Koch's career will shift to management rather than flight duties 1.