In the quarter century that people 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, traveling at speeds of 17,500 miles per hour. The crews celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, New Year's, birthdays and national holidays by orbiting the planet every 90 minutes.
Holiday traditions in space often look familiar, simply adapted to microgravity conditions. NASA astronauts share special meals packaged by the Space Nutrition Systems Laboratory at Johnson Space Center in Houston, where crews select menus with the help of nutritionists and food scientists before launch. Cargo boats arriving ahead of special occasions often deliver festive wrapped bags filled with foods such as clams, oysters, turkey, green beans and smoked salmon, as well as shelf-stable treats such as candy, frosting, almond butter and hummus.
Crew members exchange small gifts that move around the modules, decorate the station with holiday decorations, and communicate with loved ones through video calls. Astronauts also send holiday greetings back to Earth, reminding us that even in space, home is never far away.
Enjoy the 25th anniversary celebration below.
The space station remains a vital scientific platform, providing the foundation necessary for humanity to survive and thrive as it ventures into the uncharted territories of our universe.
Learn more about the space station's 25 years of continuous human presence and explore stories, images, and research at:
