Is Christmas Celebrated on the ISS?

Merry Christmas! Since today is Christmas Day, I was curious how they celebrated Christmas on the ISS. So that's what today's article is about. Enjoy!

When you think of the ISS, you think of decent food, a floating laboratory in space, astronauts working the whole day, then exercising for two hours a day. When you think of Christmas, you think of Santa Clause, a Christmas tree, stockings, a big hearty meal, and a day off. Luckily for the astronauts on the ISS, they celebrate more of a Christmas than you might think. 

Stuffed Spacesuits on the ISS Dressed
Up Like Santa and His Elves

On the ISS, they manage to celebrate a traditional Christmas with a few extra quirks to it. The ISS becomes a very lively place during the Christmas season. There are decorations put all over the ISS. They also have a Christmas tree on the ISS. Granted, the tree isn't a real tree and is just a plastic tree. The first Christmas tree in space wasn't even a fake tree. Instead, it was made from empty food containers aboard the ISS on the Skylab 4 mission in 1973. But, they decorate the tree, and they also put gifts around the Christmas tree. 

The gifts are sent in by family members of the crewmate and from each other. They are put around the tree but are also put into stockings. Since they are in a zero-gravity environment, the stockings usually fly up and stick to the ISS ceiling. When the astronauts on the ISS have their wake up call, they all gather together to open up their gifts. Some also call their family's.

Stockings Sticking on the Ceiling of the ISS

Even space suits are not safe from the Christmas festivities. Older space suits are stuffed and are dressed as Santa Clause. They have presents all around them. They also leave powdered cookies and freeze-dried milk for Santa. The whole mood on the ISS is very festive. Even Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas is dressed up for the occasion.

Christmas Tree on the ISS

Astronauts on the ISS also have a big Christmas meal with all the essentials. While unable to prepare a roasted turkey on the ISS, crew members usually get a meal of smoked turkey, candied yams, corn, green beans, mac and cheese, and potatoes au gratin. They also get dessert, usually consisting of strawberries, bread pudding, butter cookies, and shortbread cookies.

This year's feast was shipped to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon supply ship. A NASA spokesperson said that this year's meal includes:

• Roasted Turkey

• Jellied Cranberry Sauce

• Macaroni and Cheese

• Potatoes Au Gratin

• Southwestern Corn

• Spice Green Beans

• Cornbread Dressing

• Wheat Flatbread

For the desert, the crew members of the ISS will have:

• Cherry Blueberry Cobbler

• Cranapple Desert

• Shortbread Cookies

• Sparkle Gel

• French Vanilla Cappuccino

In November of this year, the crewmates of Expedition 64 got a specially designed oven that would bake cookies in space! Sadly, it is only for an experiment, and the astronauts will not eat them.

The crewmates on the ISS also get the day off on Christmas Day. This gives them time to relax in the tiring environment of space. During this time, they chill on the ISS and call their family members. For example, in 2012, CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield and the crew sang Christmas carols aboard the ISS. In the end, the crewmates aboard the ISS celebrate a memorable Christmas they won't forget.

Christmas Morning on the ISS in 2010

Sources:

Hamilton, Isobel Asher. “Zero-Gravity Cookies and Santa Space Suits: Here's What It's like to Spend Christmas on the International Space Station.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 24 Dec. 2020, www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-its-like-to-spend-christmas-on-the-iss-2019-12.