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Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch is a big Philly sports fan — and even watches games from space

In space, no one can hear you scream “Go Birds!” — unless you’re on a mission with Koch, who love showing off her Philly fandom.

In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut Christina Koch is pictured on the fourth day of the mission during The Artemis II crew's journey to the Moon.
In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut Christina Koch is pictured on the fourth day of the mission during The Artemis II crew's journey to the Moon.Read moreUncredited / AP

So, where is the best spot to catch an Eagles game?

Some may prefer to be in the middle of the action at Lincoln Financial Field. Others may want to stay in the city and watch it at McGillin’s Olde Ale House. Still others prefer the comfort of their own living rooms.

But for astronaut Christina Koch, who is one of the four crew members on the Artemis II mission that’s currently on its return from the moon, she prefers to be as far away from the games as possible — and has posted photos of herself watching games from the International Space Station, over 250 miles above the Earth.

“For a Philadelphia fan, that was a good weekend,” Koch wrote back in 2022. “Only better when I was watching from the ISS. Great to be there in person when the @phillies clinched it in Space City a week ago too! See you in Houston too, @philadelphiaeagles next month.”

Koch, who is part of the first crewed flight to the moon in over 50 years and the first woman astronaut to make a trip around the moon, has worn her Philly sports fandom as a badge of pride dating back to 2016 — posting photos of herself in Eagles gear, watching Eagles games, and running the iconic Rocky steps.

The Michigan native became an astronaut in 2013. Before becoming a mission specialist of NASA’s Artemis II mission, she was living and working on the International Space Station for almost all of 2019 — spending a total of 328 consecutive days in space and participating in the first all-female spacewalks.

So, how did she pass the time when she was actually inside the station? Eagles games certainly helped.

Koch came prepared, bringing plenty of Philly sports gear in space with her — including a Phillies jersey, a Joel Embiid jersey, and an Eagles hat.

This is just the latest proof that Philly sports fans truly are everywhere — but the Artemis crew can’t remain in space forever. They will be splashing Friday night in the Pacific Ocean — just in time for potential playoff runs from the Sixers and Flyers and the bulk of the Phillies season.

Might we see Koch ring the bell before a Sixers game or throw out a Phillies first pitch?