Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have shared a heartfelt Christmas message with their families and friends on Earth. In a video uploaded to YouTube, crew members Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Chris Williams, and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) displayed their holiday decorations and reflected on what Christmas is like in space.
“Greetings to planet Earth, all of our friends and family, from Expedition 74 aboard the International Space Station, flying high above,” said Fincke, the commander of the crew. He emphasized their thoughts of loved ones during this festive season. Cardman humorously added, “I think we may be orbiting a little higher than Santa is flying, though,” highlighting the unique perspective of celebrating Christmas from orbit.
The message combined humor with heartfelt sentiments. Fincke acknowledged the bittersweet nature of being away from family, noting, “It’s also a little bit sad because we’re not with our families at this time, but actually, we are with our space family.” He expressed gratitude for the camaraderie among the crew, stating they look forward to spending the holidays together.
Celebrating Together in Space
This holiday season is not the first for many of these experienced astronauts to be away from home. Each crew member took turns speaking, sharing their feelings about missing relatives while celebrating as a close-knit family aboard the ISS. “It’s so special for us to share the holidays with each other here in orbit, and with all of the teams taking care of us on the ground,” Cardman noted. She extended thanks to the families who support the astronauts, as well as to those at Mission Control who will be working through the holidays.
Along with their greetings, the astronauts showcased their decorating skills. “So as you can see, we’ve got a little bit of decoration here,” Williams said while pointing to a display on the hatch lock door behind him. The crew had set up a small tree and hung festive boots by the airlock, contributing to the spirit of the season.
Yui, reflecting on Christmas traditions in Japan, expressed appreciation for the support of his fellow astronauts during this time. He promised to prepare a holiday dinner featuring Japanese cuisine, which elicited cheers from his teammates. “So from all of us aboard the International Space Station to all of you, we would like to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, the happiest of Christmas,” Fincke concluded. “Merry Christmas, and a happy, happy New Year.”
The current ISS crew comprises seven astronauts, including flight engineers from Russia’s Roscosmos space agency: Oleg Platanov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergey Mikaev, who did not appear in the video. The festive message from space serves as a reminder of the human connections that transcend distance, especially during the holiday season.
