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ISS Expedition 74 Sends Christmas Greetings From Orbit

Seasonal rituals help sustain crew morale on long missions.

Overview

  • NASA’s Johnson Space Center posted a December 22 video showing four astronauts in Santa hats offering holiday wishes from the International Space Station.
  • Commander Mike Fincke delivered the message alongside crewmates Zena Cardman, Christopher Williams, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui.
  • The crew highlighted simple decorations, including a small tree and boots hung by an airlock to create new traditions, as described by Williams.
  • Seasonal foods and small gifts sent on cargo missions let astronauts share festive meals and exchange floating presents despite being far from home.
  • The greetings continue decades of spaceflight holiday observances from Apollo 8 and Skylab through the ISS era, with NASA keeping constant contact during the season.