A Cosmic Christmas: Astronauts Send Holiday Greetings from the Cosmos
Even though they might not be resting beside their hearth, astronauts are making sure the Yuletide spirit runs high in the cosmos. Festive stockings have been hung near the airlock with an extra touch of care.
Four astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station have been busy sending their warmest holiday greetings back to their home planet. The crew consists of three American astronauts and one from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. This holiday season, they, along with three other crew members, will be spending their time 250 miles above their home planet. They've even prepared a special video greeting card to share their unique Christmas experience.
A Message from a Different Kind of Christmas Sleigh
"We send our warmest greetings to everyone on Earth, our friends, family, from Expedition 74, aboard the International Space Station, soaring high," the leader of the crew said. "You are in our thoughts during this festive season."
Despite the physical distance from their families back on Earth, the crew has found warmth and unity in their space family. "Yes, it's a little sad that we're not with our families, but in a way, we are. We're with our space family, and we're doing fine. We can't wait to celebrate the festivities together," he added.
As they celebrate in the cosmos, their mission support teams spread across the globe will join them in the festivities, from Houston to several other centers in Japan, Europe, and Russia.
Zero-Gravity Christmas
One of the newest members of the crew, who arrived at the International Space Station during Thanksgiving, shared how they are finding ways to put a zero-gravity spin on Christmas traditions. "We have a bit of decoration here," he said while displaying the festive decor set up inside the station's Japanese lab. "We have a small tree, and we've hung some boots by the airlock spreading cheer."
Spending Christmas in space is not new for astronauts. They've been celebrating the holiday in orbit for the past 25 years. The first crew took up residence in November 2000, and the first Christmas off Earth was in 1968 during a mission to orbit the moon. Even before joining the space agency, many astronauts had experience being away from home during the holidays.
Special Holidays in Orbit
One of the astronauts, a trained geobiologist who conducted research in Antarctica and on sea expeditions, revealed that this isn't the first time she and her crewmates have spent the holidays away from home. "It's incredibly special for us to share the holidays with each other in orbit, and with all of the teams taking care of us on the ground," she said. "We also want to express our immense gratitude to the families who are lending these crew members to us, and to those in Mission Control who will spend their holidays taking care of us, and to their families at home as well."
However, there is one challenge: Santa might find it difficult to reach them. "I think we may be orbiting a little higher than where Santa usually flies," she added jokingly.
A Taste of Japanese Christmas in Space
The Japanese astronaut on the crew shared that the support he receives from friends, family, and Mission Control makes the holidays extra special. He even plans to bring a taste of Japanese Christmas to his crewmates. "I'll probably prepare a lot of Japanese food for you guys to celebrate the holiday season," he said.
The four astronauts are among the seven currently living aboard the International Space Station. The remaining crew includes three flight engineers from Russia's space agency, who were not part of the video greeting card.
"So, from all of us aboard the International Space Station to all of you, we would like to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, the happiest of Christmas. Merry Christmas, and a very, very Happy New Year," the leader of the crew said, concluding their cosmic Christmas message.