Christmas on Earth conjures images of crackling fireplaces, snow-dusted landscapes, and the comforting aroma of gingerbread. But for NASA's astronauts, the holiday takes on a whole new dimension, celebrated at 17,500 miles per hour amidst the awe-inspiring vastness of space. From the pioneering days of Apollo to the high-tech haven of the International Space Station, let's embark on a cosmic journey through 55 years of celestial Christmases, unwrapping the ingenuity and heartwarming traditions that have adorned the holiday in orbit.
1968: Carols from the Lunar Seas
The year 1968 witnessed the first ever spaceborne Christmas. Apollo 8's Borman, Lovell, and Anders, orbiting the Moon on Christmas Eve, became humanity's celestial carolers. Their live broadcast, echoing across the globe with passages from the Book of Genesis, remains a poignant testament to the spirit of the season reaching even the lunar frontier.
1973: Skylab's DIY Christmas
Five years later, Skylab 4 crewmates proved resourcefulness is the ultimate Christmas ornament. Leftover food containers transformed into a makeshift tree, adorned with ornaments crafted from packaging – a testament to spacefaring ingenuity and the enduring spirit of Yuletide cheer.
1988: A Christmas Carol from Mir
As the Cold War thawed, the spirit of Christmas reached new heights. Soviet cosmonaut Titov and his Afghan counterpart Musa Manarov, aboard the Mir space station, held a joint Christmas Eve celebration, showcasing the unifying power of the holiday amidst earthly divisions.
2000: Connecting Across the Cosmos
With the dawn of the International Space Station, Christmas celebrations blossomed into elaborate affairs. Expedition 1's crew reveled in a virtual Christmas Eve party with loved ones back on Earth, bridging the celestial gap with laughter, stories, and carols sung against the backdrop of twinkling stars.
2010: 3D-Printed Delights
Technology became Santa's helper in orbit. Astronauts on the ISS enjoyed holiday movies on laptops, video-chatted with families, and even utilized 3D printers to create personalized ornaments, adding a touch of earthly joy to their celestial home.
2020: A Socially Distanced Christmas
Even a global pandemic couldn't dampen the spirits of the ISS crew. Celebrating Christmas amidst strict isolation protocols, they savored specially prepared spacefaring meals, exchanged gifts, and held a virtual singalong with carolers on Earth, proving that the joy of the season transcends earthly limitations.
Expedition 64 crew members Sergei V. Kud-Sverchkov of Roscosmos, left, Hopkins, Walker, Sergei N. Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, Glover, Rubins, and Noguchi welcome in 2021 aboard the space station. Credits: NASA
