How NASA Astronauts Ring in the Holidays From Orbit

Since 1999, at least one American astronaut has celebrated the winter holiday season in space.

Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 01:55 PM ET

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NASA astronauts Don Pettit (left) and Suni Williams, flight engineer and mission commander, respectively, for the space agency’s Expedition 72, are two of seven International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers celebrating the holidays from orbit this year. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) and past missions actively celebrate winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, maintaining traditions despite being hundreds of miles from Earth.
These celebrations often involve special feasts, decorating their cabins, communicating with family, and sending goodwill messages to loved ones and mission control.
The tradition of celebrating holidays in space dates back to Apollo 8 in 1968 and has continued annually for American astronauts since 1999, with crews creatively adapting customs to the unique space environment.

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International Space Station (ISS) astronauts spend the winter holiday season orbiting hundreds of miles above family and friends. But that’s not enough to kill the holiday spirit.

“It’s a great time of year up here. We get to spend it with all of our ‘family’ up on the International Space Station,” said Suni Williams, commander of NASA’s Expedition 72, in a video message beamed from the ISS on December 23.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.