Sunita Williams and Her Space Station Crew Share Christmas Greetings from Orbit
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her fellow crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS), extended their Christmas greetings to everyone on Earth in a special video shared by the space agency on X. The heartfelt message, filmed from space, offers a unique perspective on celebrating the holiday season 240 miles above the planet.
Williams, dressed in a red t-shirt, welcomed viewers to the ISS, sharing her excitement about spending the holidays with her 'family' in space. "Welcome to the International Space Station as we get ready for the Christmas holidays. It's a great time up here, we get to spend it with all of our 'family' on the International Space Station," she said, referring to the seven astronauts currently aboard.
The astronaut then reflected on what she loves about Christmas. "One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready, the anticipation, everybody getting together and preparing stuff and just getting ready for the holiday", she shared, highlighting the joy that comes from the holiday's spirit of togetherness and excitement.
The video showed Williams and her colleagues in high spirits, with three of them donning Santa caps. A small Christmas tree was placed next to them, adding to the festive atmosphere. Williams also revealed that they had received a few Christmas-themed items aboard the space station. "A couple of little things we have here with us to just prepare, which will be sort of fun in a couple of days", she mentioned, giving a sneak peek of the upcoming celebrations in space.
As Williams passed the microphone to one of her colleagues, he spoke about the importance of spending time with loved ones during the holiday season. "Christmas time, the holiday season, is about spending time with friends and family... This year, we're going to be away from them. So, we wanted to send our heartfelt Merry Christmas and we hope you have a wonderful holiday," he said.
The astronaut also acknowledged the support of the teams on Earth, who would be working tirelessly during the holidays. "There’s a huge team on the ground that's going to support us in mission controls around the globe over the holidays", he explained, expressing gratitude for the sacrifices made by the teams keeping the ISS mission running smoothly.
In addition to the holiday cheer, NASA confirmed that a SpaceX Dragon capsule had delivered essential supplies and festive gifts to the ISS, ensuring the astronauts could enjoy a special Christmas meal in space.
This heartwarming message from the ISS serves as a reminder of the global collaboration that makes space missions possible, even during the holiday season.
