Although this year’s Christmas celebrations spread to the world as a result of the pandemic, the Christmas festivities were able to spread to the open air. The astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) not only celebrated Christmas aboard the space station but sent a message of human suffering back to Earth.
The seven members of the ISS Expedition 64 crew took the day off in orbit to rest but five of them released special videos for everyone on Earth. Talking about how the pandemic changed lives, they appreciated the human spirit and talked about how they celebrate Christmas, showing gifts they received through a special delivery.
Even though the team took the day off, they stressed that the Mission Control team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston works around the clock and will work all day over free- days and gave a special shout.
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Flight controllers get a specialist❄️ #Holiday ❄️shoutout from @Space_Station residents @NASA_Astronauts Ceit Rubins, @AstroVicGlover, & @Astro_illini!📸: NASA / Anthony Vareha pic.twitter.com/tYgrQpz5H8
– Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) 24 December 2020
The international team at ISS includes NASA astronauts Kate Rubins, Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover Jr. and Shannon Walker; Japan Aerospace Research Group astronaut Soichi Noguchi; and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Ryzhikov.
In keeping with the traditions, they equipped the ISS with holiday decorations made from materials found around the station and flaunted it by challenging the mission control team to make free-decorations. create days made entirely of materials found in the building. Wearing a red-and-green Christmas coat, Scoville replied, “Take the challenge! ”Before I post ‘I may have to cut this coat up and make it something new later. “
Exp 64 astronauts talk about the long holidays from family and friends, reveal some of their presents and take on a decorative challenge to Mission Control at @NASA_Johnson. pic.twitter.com/sNcssj6Eio
– International Space Station (@Space_Station) 24 December 2020
Holiday spirits were seen in the video messages when Victor Glover, pilot of SpaceX Crew Dragon, showed off his socks – printed exclusively with photos of a family member – and shared by Japan Aerospace Research Group engineer Soichi Noguchi an early Christmas gift for the team – a can of mackerel made by a group of schoolgirls. “This is a small, tiny can of mackerel, but a big jump for Japanese high school girls,” Noguchi mocked when showing the gift.
And as the Christmas festival is endless without Santa Claus, for the first time ever, astronauts on the ISS received a special visit from a strange spaceship – led by a reindeer and carrying a jolly old elf . North American Aerospace Protection Association (NORAD) and Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) has released a new video of flyby Santa with the station for the festival.
Are you waiting for a visit from Santa’s sleigh? Yes @NASA_Astronauts doing the same! This year @NORADSanta making a special stop for the International @Space_Station to deliver gifts.
Keep an eye on where it is going: https://t.co/TAfztY2fO7 pic.twitter.com/H0RHyTb7fC
– NASA (@NASA) 24 December 2020
“For the first time ever, the FAA granted Santa a special commercial space permit for a crew mission to the International Space Station using its StarSleigh-1 space capsule powered by the Rudolph Rocket,” the FAA said in the recitation. “Going to face it, 2020 was a tough year and we could all enjoy a few special holidays that only Santa can deliver,” he said.
Earlier they took some time to send back a “suffering” message home during a very difficult holiday, again explaining the meaning of the name they gave to the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule sent by four of the astronauts to space station in November.
.@NASA_Astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, Kate Rubins, and @JAXA_en astronaut Soichi Noguchi reflects on an unprecedented year and reminds us of the strength of the human spirit as we enter a new year. pic.twitter.com/zK9CgG9ZdA
– International Space Station (@Space_Station) 22 December 2020
Away from home and family on Earth, for the past 20 years astronauts have taken a vacation aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and every year, they are on the events removed by adapting newer ways to enjoy performances in the outdoor area.