Christmas and New Year's are a time when most people around the world stay with their families. This holds true for astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well. While the inhabitants of the space station are away from their spouses and children, they enjoy the holiday season with their space family. Recently, NASA SpaceX Crew-7 members, who are a part of Expedition 70, extended holiday wishes to everyone on Earth from space.
The Crew-7 members are NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
Moghbeli said, "For me personally, the holidays have evolved in a very beautiful way over time as I met my husband. We would each celebrate different holidays growing up. So, we have brought those two cultures and our holiday traditions together, and share them with each other and with our two little girls, and that has been something really special for us, and it is just a reminder of the connection of all humans of different cultures and traditions, and how beautiful it is when we bring those together."
O'Hara said that for her, the holidays are always a time to get together with family. She added that this will be the first holiday season that she doesn't get to spend with her family, but she is super excited to spend it onboard the space station with their space family up there.
"The ISS represents the best in all of us as individuals and in our countries and in humanity. I think it's beautiful to look down on Earth and have that perspective that we get to have up here. I know it inspires all of us, and I hope it inspires all of you on Earth as well," O'Hara said.
Furukawa said that during New Year Holiday in Japan, it is common that the whole family gets together. He said that people visit the shrine, and pray for New Year's happiness. "From the International Space Station, I wish all of you endless happiness and smiles."
Mogensen said in Danish that Christmas is a holiday many people spend with their family, and although he cannot celebrate this Christmas with his own family, he is grateful to be able to spend it with his space family onboard the space station.
He also said that when astronauts and cosmonauts look down on Earth from up there, they see an Earth that looks completely quiet and peaceful, and that they hope their cooperation across nationalities can show what humans can achieve when they set their differences apart and choose to cooperate.
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"From all of us onboard the International Space Station, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year," Mogensen concluded.
In December 2021, a SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft brought holiday treats and Christmas presents, along with science experiments, crew supplies, and other cargo, to the space station.
The crew received gifts and a holiday food delivery. The menu included roasted turkey, spicy green beans, smoked seafood, and fruit cake.
The same year, space station members took part in a "Cosmic Cookie" decorating contest.