Astronauts Celebrate Christmas on the International Space Station

NASA’s Expedition 72 crew marked the holiday season with festive traditions, creative decorations, and messages of goodwill from orbit.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, originally on an eight-day mission, have been aboard the ISS for over six months due to delays with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The seven-member ISS crew, including astronauts from NASA and Russian cosmonauts, celebrated Christmas with floating candy canes, festive decor, and a special holiday meal featuring prepackaged dishes.
Continuing a long tradition of holiday celebrations in space, the crew created decorations like a makeshift snowman and participated in activities such as a cookie-decorating contest with Mission Control staff.
A video message from the crew emphasized the importance of unity and connection during the holidays, with astronauts sharing personal reflections and warm wishes for Earth-based teams and loved ones.
The celebration highlights the resilience and camaraderie of astronauts living and working in space, where holiday traditions take on unique and creative forms.