Holidays in Space: 25 Years of Space Station Celebrations

Astronauts and visitors from around the world have celebrated countless holidays while living and working aboard the International Space Station for over 25 years, marking milestones like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, birthdays, and national holidays.
Holiday traditions in space often look familiar, with NASA astronauts sharing special meals packed by the Space Food Systems Laboratory, exchanging small gifts that float through the modules, and adding festive decorations around the station.
Crew members connect with loved ones through video calls and send holiday greetings to Earth, a reminder that home is never far away. The space station remains a vital scientific platform, providing the foundation needed to survive and thrive as humanity ventures into the unexplored territories of our universe.
Over the years, astronauts have shared photos and stories of their holiday celebrations on the space station, showcasing unique traditions like decorating with excess hardware, cargo bags, and Santa hats.
The International Space Station has become a symbol of human presence in space, marking 25 years of continuous human habitation and paving the way for future missions to the Moon and beyond.

In the quarter century that humans have lived and worked aboard the International Space Station, astronauts and visitors from around the world have celebrated countless holidays more than 250 miles above Earth while traveling 17,500 miles per hour. Crews have marked Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, New Year’s, birthdays, and national holidays as they circle the planet every 90 minutes.

Holiday traditions in space often look familiar, just adapted for microgravity. NASA astronauts share special meals packed by the Space Food Systems Laboratory at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where crews select their menus with help from nutritionists and food scientists before launch. Cargo launches arriving before special occasions often deliver Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bags filled with foods like clams, oysters, turkey, green beans, and smoked salmon, along with shelf-stable treats such as candies, icing, almond butter, and hummus.

Crew members exchange small gifts that float through the modules, add festive decorations around the station, and connect with loved ones through video calls. Astronauts also send holiday greetings to Earth, a reminder that even in space, home is never far away.

The Expedition 73 crew share a holiday message aboard the International Space Station in Dec. 2025.

Enjoy 25 years of celebrations below.

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander respectively, share snacks and goodies on Christmas Eve inside the gallery of the International Space Station's Unity module. — NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander, share snacks and goodies on Christmas Eve in 2024 inside the gallery of the space station’s Unity module.

NASA

Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the International Space Station's Unity module for a Christmas Day meal. From left are, Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency); and NASA Flight Engineers Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli. — Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the space station’s Unity module for a Christmas Day meal in Dec. 2023. From left are, Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency); and NASA Flight Engineers Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli.

NASA

A woman with short, dark hair and wearing a Santa hat, maroon shirt, and khaki pants smiles with arms outspread while floating in microgravity in front of Christmas stockings. — ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti pictured aboard the space station on Dec. 20, 2014, during Expedition 42.

NASA

Three men in blue/gray suits smile as they pose for a Christmas pose onboard the Interrnational Space Station — Expedition 4 crew members, former NASA astronauts Daniel Bursch and Carl Walz, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Yuri Onufriyenko, pose for a Christmas photo in Dec. 2001.

NASA

The Expedition 64 crew celebrate Christmas in 2019 with a brunch inside the space station’s Unity module decorated with stockings, flashlight “candles” and a Christmas tree banner. Clockwise from bottom left are, NASA Flight Engineers Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, Roscosmos Flight Engineers Oleg Skripochka and Alexander Skvortsov, NASA Flight Engineer Drew Morgan, and Commander Luca Parmitano of ESA.

Expedition 13 crew members, Roscosmos cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarev, left, and former NASA astronaut William McArthur, pose with Christmas stockings in Dec. 2005.

NASA

The six Expedition 30 crew members assemble in the U.S. Destiny laboratory aboard the space station for a Christmas celebration in Dec. 2011.

NASA

Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the International Space Station's Unity module for Christmas Eve festivities. From left are, NASA Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara; Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); and Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency). — Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the space station’s Unity module for Christmas Eve festivities in 2023. From left are, NASA Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara; Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA; and Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA.

NASA

Expedition 22 crew members celebrate the holidays aboard the orbital outpost in Dec. 2009. In the front row are NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, commander (right), and Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, flight engineer. In the back row, from left, are Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all flight engineers. All crew members pictured are former astronauts. — Expedition 22 crew members celebrate the holidays aboard the orbital outpost in Dec. 2009. In the front row are former NASA astronaut Jeffrey Williams, commander (right), and Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, flight engineer. In the back row, from left, are Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, former NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all flight engineers.

NASA

Expedition 50 crew members celebrate the holidays aboard the orbiting laboratory in Dec. 2016.

NASA

NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander respectively, pose for a fun holiday season portrait while speaking on a ham radio inside the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module. — NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander, pose for a fun holiday season portrait while speaking on a ham radio inside the space station’s Columbus laboratory module.

NASA

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams shows off a holiday decoration of a familiar reindeer aboard the International Space Station. The decoration was crafted with excess hardware, cargo bags, and recently-delivered Santa hats. — NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams shows off a holiday decoration of a familiar reindeer aboard the space station on Dec. 16, 2024. The decoration was crafted with excess hardware, cargo bags, and recently-delivered Santa hats.

NASA

The space station remains a vital scientific platform, providing the foundation needed to survive and thrive as humanity ventures into the unexplored territories of our universe.

Learn more about the space station’s 25 years of continuous human presence and explore stories, images, and research at:

https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/iss25

link

Q. What is unique about how astronauts celebrate holidays in space?

A. Astronauts celebrate holidays in space by marking familiar traditions, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, but adapted for microgravity.

Q. How do NASA astronauts prepare for special meals in space?

A. NASA astronauts select their menus with help from nutritionists and food scientists before launch, and receive special meals packed by the Space Food Systems Laboratory at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Q. What kind of gifts do astronauts exchange during holidays in space?

A. Astronauts exchange small gifts that float through the modules, adding to the festive atmosphere on the International Space Station.

Q. How do astronauts connect with loved ones during holidays in space?

A. Astronauts connect with loved ones through video calls, allowing them to stay in touch with family and friends back on Earth.

Q. What kind of decorations do astronauts add to the space station during holidays?

A. Astronauts add festive decorations around the station, such as stockings, candles, and a Christmas tree banner, to create a cozy atmosphere.

Q. How often does the International Space Station orbit the planet?

A. The International Space Station orbits the planet every 90 minutes.

Q. What is the speed of the International Space Station when traveling through space?

A. The International Space Station travels at 17,500 miles per hour.

Q. How long has humans lived and worked on the International Space Station?

A. Humans have lived and worked aboard the International Space Station for a quarter century (25 years).

Q. What is the significance of the International Space Station as a scientific platform?

A. The space station remains a vital scientific platform, providing the foundation needed to survive and thrive as humanity ventures into the unexplored territories of our universe.

Q. How can one learn more about the space station’s 25 years of continuous human presence?

A. One can learn more by visiting the NASA website at https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/iss25.

Holidays in Space: 25 Years of Space Station Celebrations

Holidays in Space: 25 Years of Space Station Celebrations

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