Koch was part of the four-member crew of the Artemis II mission, which in April flew around the Moon, the first lunar flyby in more than 50 years.
Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch looks on as she arrives in the rotunda during a visit to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, on May 14, 2026. Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP
US astronaut Christina Koch, the first woman to take part in a lunar mission, was on Wednesday named the winner of a top Spanish prize for having “helped extend the frontiers of humanity”.
She is widely viewed as a potential candidate for future lunar-surface missions.
The Artemis II astronauts became the humans to travel furthest away from the Earth, at 406,771 kilometres (252,756 miles).
Koch already held the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman — 328 days — and took part in the first spacewalk performed entirely by women, alongside her colleague Jessica Meir.
This screen grab from NASA’s feed released on April 3, 2026, shows the four Artemis II crew members (L-R) Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist and Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot as they head to orbit the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. Photo by HANDOUT / NASA TV / AFP
The 50,000-euro ($58,000) Concord Award is one of eight prizes, including for the arts, sciences and sports, handed out annually by the foundation named after the heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor.
It honours efforts to improve human coexistence, solidarity, and global cooperation.
Previous winners of the Concord Award include Scottish charity group Mary’s Meals, Spanish chef Jose Andres, and Spain’s health workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
This handout photo released by NASA shows NASA astronaut Victor Glover (L), Artemis II pilot, and NASA astronaut Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, sitting on a Navy MH-60 Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha after they and fellow crewmates were extracted from their Orion spacecraft after splashdown, April 10, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Photo by BILL INGALLS / NASA / AFP
