4IntermediateGeneralCulture

Astronaut Christina Koch Reunites With Her Dog After Space

NASA astronaut Christina Koch has returned from a historic space mission. A sweet video shows her excited dog welcoming her home. The moment reminds us of the personal sacrifices astronauts make.

1 min readLevel 4April 15, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

reunion

/riːˈjuːniən/

noun

A meeting between people or loved ones who have been apart for some time

“The family reunion was full of hugs and happy tears.”

heartwarming

/ˈhɑːrtˌwɔːrmɪŋ/

adjective

Something that makes you feel happy and warm inside

“The heartwarming story about the lost cat made everyone smile.”

incredible

/ɪnˈkredɪbl/

adjective

Very hard to believe because it is so amazing or great

“The view from the top of the mountain was incredible.”

historic

/hɪˈstɒrɪk/

adjective

Very important in history or likely to be remembered

“The first moon landing was a historic moment for all people.”

sacrifice

/ˈsækrɪfaɪs/

verb

To give up something important for a bigger purpose or goal

“She had to sacrifice her free time to finish the project.”

exploration

/ˌekspləˈreɪʃən/

noun

The act of traveling to new places to learn about them

“Space exploration has taught us many things about the universe.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch is finally home from space. She shared a heartwarming video on Instagram last Sunday. The video shows her dog, Sadie, barking with excitement. Sadie wagged her tail and got the zoomies. It was a truly emotional reunion for both of them.

Koch was part of the Artemis II moon mission. The crew spent ten days in space together. They traveled an incredible 694,481 miles during the mission. The crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on Friday. Their splashdown happened near San Diego, California.

The Artemis II mission was historic for several reasons. The crew flew farther from Earth than anyone before. They broke a record that Apollo 13 set in 1970. The four-person crew included three NASA astronauts. A Canadian astronaut named Jeremy Hansen also joined them.

Koch said she was the happier side of the reunion. She also posted a video of them playing on the beach. The data from this mission will help plan future moon landings. NASA believes Artemis II will pave the way for exploration. This mission shows that astronauts sacrifice a lot for science.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
What is the name of Christina Koch's dog?
2
How many days did the Artemis II mission last?
3
Which mission held the previous distance record before Artemis II?
4
Where did the Artemis II crew land on Earth?
5
How many astronauts were on the Artemis II crew?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What did Christina Koch share on Instagram after returning home?
2
How long did the Artemis II mission last, and how far did they travel?
3
Where did the Artemis II crew land when they returned to Earth?
4
What record did the Artemis II mission break during the flight?
5
Why is the data from this mission important for NASA's future plans?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever been away from a pet or loved one for a long time? How did you feel when you saw them again?
2
What do you think is the hardest part about being an astronaut?
3
Would you like to travel to space one day? Why or why not?
4
Do you think space exploration is worth the money and effort? Why?
5
What kind of sacrifices do you think are worth making for your career or dreams?