NASA astronaut reunites with dog after breaking record for longest space mission by a woman

NASA astronaut Christina Koch went viral Thursday after tweeting a video of her dog greeting her after she returned from nearly a year in outer space.

“Not sure who was most excited. Glad she remembers me after a year!” Koch shared Thursday.

Not sure who was more excited. Glad she remembers me after a year! pic.twitter.com/sScVXHMHJn

— Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) February 13, 2020

The pup can be seen hitting at a door and jumping onto Koch in the video upon her return, greeting the astronaut with excited barks, tail wags and licks on her face. 

Koch told reporters Wednesday at Houston’s Johnson Space Center that she was feeling “great” after her return, HuffPost reported. She was enjoying spending time with loved ones and eating her favorite snack, chips and salsa.

She also told reporters about her furry friend, saying “We call her LBD, little brown dog. She’s from the Humane Society and she couldn’t be sweeter,” Koch said. 

“And yes, she was very excited, I was very excited, I’m not sure who was more excited!” she said. 

Koch broke the record earlier this month for the longest mission in space undertaken by a woman. She touched down back on Earth on Feb. 6 after a 328-day spaceflight.

Her time in space was 12 days shy of the American spaceflight record, held by astronaut Scott Kelly, HuffPost reported.

President Trump congratulated Koch after her return, tweeting “Welcome back to Earth, @Astro_Christina, and congratulations on breaking the female record for the longest stay in space! You’re inspiring young women and making the USA proud! Enjoyed speaking with you and @Astro_Jessica on the first all-female spacewalk IN HISTORY last year.”

Welcome back to Earth, @Astro_Christina, and congratulations on breaking the female record for the longest stay in space! You’re inspiring young women and making the USA proud! Enjoyed speaking with you and @Astro_Jessica on the first all-female spacewalk IN HISTORY last year.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2020