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 during past missions uphold holiday traditions, celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah despite being hundreds of miles from Earth.
These space-based celebrations have a rich history, beginning with Apollo 8 in 1968, and have been a continuous tradition for American astronauts since 1999.
Celebrations involve adapting customs for zero-gravity, such as special meals, makeshift decorations like homemade Christmas trees or felt menorahs, private calls with family, and sharing goodwill messages with Earth.
The holiday spirit in space emphasizes camaraderie, with crew members often viewing each other as family while orbiting during the festive season.

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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.