Holiday celebration for astronauts aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) are pretty standardized to how they are on Earth , except for two principal factors : the absence of gravity , and a food selection that does n’t quite match what many earthman will be enjoying back on terra firma .
As is accustomed , the current ISS crew of seven inhabitants has been sharing some gay photo from the orbital outpost about 250 mile above Earth .
NASA ’s Nick Hague , who get in at the ISS in September , has carry a picture of the current mathematical group of four American astronauts , kitted out in their festive attire , along with the message : “ The vacation are all about time spent with family and friend . This class , that celebration is semisweet . While it ’s joyous to share this awesome opportunity to live in outer space with a really remarkable crew , I deeply lack my syndicate and friend on Earth . ”
Hague also divvy up an image ( bottom ) of all seven crew members — NASA ’s crew and three Russians — enjoying a hearty holiday dejeuner together .
When I think of the holidays , I intend of dinner party at Christmas , with class and admirer gather for a delicious repast and sweet ! For me , it ’s cookies . shekels , plenty chocolate , peanut butter ; my Dad bake some of the best on the planet . I care I had some while I ’m off the planet!pic.twitter.com / oEddvsz5BL
& mdash ; Nick Hague ( @AstroHague)December 23 , 2024
grant to Eater , the distinctive vacation fare for astronauts aboardthe blank stationfeatures slice roasted turkey ( a freeze - dried particular that ’s rehydrated by a crew fellow member ) and smoked turkey ( an irradiated item that ’s ready to corrode ) , together with butterfly white potato vine , Brussels sprouts , macaroni and cheeseflower , green bonce , and cranapple dessert .
To give spaceman on the ISS a taste of home plate , a team of chef back on Earth might also prepare a holiday foods package check items such as Phthirius pubis meat , smoked salmon , pork liver crown , jellied cranberry sauce , and pumpkin spice latte . Once made up , the goody are put into special containers to ensure food safety , longevity , and ease of consumption in microgravity term . They ’ll then be sent to sphere on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft , along with other supplies , a month or two before being consumed .
But normal - sized Christmas cookies — or any type of traditional cookie , for that topic — are a fully grown no - no for the ISS , as the result lowlife could cause problems by swim away and clog up the place ’s public discussion filters or get into electric systems and other sensible equipment . rather , cookies will be bite - sized or somewhat damp to prevent the creation of crumbs .
And while many folks on Earth might be delight a tipple around Christmastime , astronauts aboard the ISS can only sip soft drinks as alcoholic drink is ban aboard the deftness .
Still , despite the unusual circumstance , ISS astronaut are able to celebrate the holidays in their own unique way , and by doing so , they become members of a very rarified club indeed .