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Expedition 74 Sends Holiday Greetings From the Space Station

Crew traditions in orbit help sustain morale during long missions.

Overview

  • NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Christopher Williams, along with JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, comprise the Expedition 74 crew.
  • Commander Mike Fincke said the season feels bittersweet, as the astronauts are away from Earth families but celebrate with their “space family.”
  • The crew highlighted onboard decorations, including a small tree and boots hung by an airlock, as they described making new traditions.
  • Holiday meals and treats typically arrive on cargo ships, such as rehydrated turkey, green beans, fruitcake or duck foie gras on tortillas.
  • NASA’s Johnson Space Center posted the crew’s message on Dec. 22, reflecting a long history of holiday observances in space dating back to Apollo 8 and Skylab.