NASA fans have found a new "crush" after the release of new photos of astronaut Christina Koch.
The astronaut, 47, is part of the Artemis II mission and just completed a historic flight around the Moon, along with three male colleagues.
But what has caused the most stir are the photos of her toned arms, which have gone viral on social media.
“My new favorite photo EVER,” wrote @astrasdoctor on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo of the astronaut holding a camera.
The incredible photo has been viewed more than 414,000 times, and dozens of amazed fans have commented.
"That woman is my crush!" wrote one fan.
Another added: "She is STRONG."
And someone joked: “Thirst traps from space. What an era we live in.”
Christina Koch is the Artemis II mission specialist and is no stranger to space. She previously worked on the International Space Station (ISS) throughout 2019, on Expeditions 59, 60 and 61.
"Look at those wings, OMG," one fan commented on X.
Another said: “She doesn’t skip arm training day.”
And another said: “I have nothing appropriate to say.”
NASA also delighted fans with an additional photo of Koch on Instagram.
"This latest photo from our @NASAArtemis II mission shows @Astro_Christina shortly after training, as she prepares for tomorrow's flight over the Moon," the space agency wrote.
Koch's impressive figure surprised no one, given the long list of interests in her NASA resume.
"Growing up spending summers on the family farm in Michigan, she taught them a passion for hard work and challenges," it reads.
“Her hobbies include surfing, rock climbing, community service, running, yoga, backpacking, photography, and traveling.”
Even while staying in the Orion capsule, Koch continues his training program.
The small capsule is equipped with a flywheel, a cable-driven device that supports exercises like rowing and resistance movements like squats and deadlifts.
NASA explained: “It functions like a yo-yo and provides resistance proportional to the force applied, allowing for loads of up to 400 pounds. This capability is especially important in deep space, where astronauts do not have access to the ISS’s extensive training equipment.”
Christina Koch isn't the only NASA astronaut to have caught the attention of fans with her muscles during the Artemis II mission.
Last week, Victor Glover became an unexpected sex symbol after he was caught on camera taking a space shower.
One woman wrote on social media: "Omg, Astronaut Victor Glover is so fit. I pray he trains a lot." /GazetaExperss/
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