Christina Marie Birch (born November 17, 1986) is an American scientist and engineer, professional racing cyclist, and NASA astronaut.
Early life and career
Birch grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, and graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, biochemistry, and molecular biophysics. Birch began cycling with the MIT cycling team while working on her PhD. While at MIT she won the 2014 USA Cycling collegiate cyclocross division two national championship. Birch also represented the JAM Fund cyclocross team from 2011-2015.
After earning a doctorate in biological engineering from MIT in 2015, Birch moved to Southern California to pursue track cycling full time. She taught bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside, and scientific writing and communication at the California Institute of Technology. On the track, Birch has represented the US at multiple Pan American Championships, World Cups, and World Championships. She competed at the 2018 and 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, and the 2019 Pan American Games.
Birch was named to the US track cycling 2020 Olympics long team for the USA in June 2020.
Astronaut candidacy On December 6, 2021, Birch was formally announced as a NASA astronaut candidate with NASA Astronaut Group 23.
During the Artemis II mission, Birch served as one of the Capsule Communicators for the mission.
On September 24, 2026, NASA announced that Birch was assigned as pilot of the SpaceX Crew-14 mission to the International Space Station. She will fly as part of Expedition 75/76.
Major results
2014 National Cyclocross Championships 1st Collegiate Division Two 2015 National Track Championships 2nd Madison 2016 National Track Championships 1st Individual pursuit 2nd Madison 2nd Points race 2017 National Track Championships 1st Individual pursuit 1st Team pursuit 2nd Madison 2nd Points race 2018 Pan American Track Championships 1st Team pursuit 2nd Madison National Track Championships 1st Team pursuit 1st Madison 2nd Points race 3rd Omnium 2019 Pan American Track Championships 2nd Team pursuit National Track Championships 2nd Madison 3rd Points race 2nd Omnium
Personal life She is a partner of a racing cyclist Ashton Lambie.
References