Astronauts on the ISS Celebrate Christmas: How the Holidays Look in Orbit.

According to ТСН: The holidays on the International Space Station (ISS) are celebrated just as festively as on Earth. Astronauts prepare festive dishes, exchange gifts, and communicate with their families via video calls.

For the past 25 years, crews working on the ISS have maintained a festive spirit even in space. They celebrate Christmas and New Year's while orbiting Earth at a speed of about 28,000 km/h, completing a full rotation of the planet every 90 minutes.

Festive Menu

Festive meals are prepared in advance at NASA's Food Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center (Houston). Crews, along with dietitians and food scientists, select the menu. Special packages with seafood, vegetables, and sweets are often added to the holiday cargo, along with long-lasting treats: icing, candies, almond butter, and hummus.

Communication with Family

Astronauts have the opportunity to communicate with their families through video calls and send holiday greetings back to Earth. NASA emphasizes that these contacts provide a sense of closeness to home, even while in space.

Celebration Traditions

Even at an altitude of over 400 km above Earth, astronauts retain holiday traditions to maintain an atmosphere of home and festive spirit for themselves and those waiting for their greetings.

It was previously reported that thanks to a new oven delivered to the station, six astronauts involved in the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions were able to enjoy hot, freshly prepared meals.

Celebrating in space highlights the importance of maintaining connections with loved ones and preserving traditions despite the great distance. It’s also part of the psychological support for astronauts, as even a short conversation with loved ones can significantly boost their mood.