The astronauts of the International Space Station are sending holiday cheer to Earth with a festive video just in time for Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dressed in red and green Santa hats, NASA astronauts Jasmine Mogbeli and Loral O’Hara joined Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency and Satoshi Furukawa of Japan to share what it’s like to spend the holidays off Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For me, the holidays have changed over time in a wonderful way,” said Mogbeli, who celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah and brought a felt menorah to the station for the holidays. “When I met my husband, we celebrated different holidays growing up. So we combined those two cultures and holiday traditions and shared them with our two little girls, which was special for us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And it’s just a reminder of the connection of all people,” she added. “Different cultures and traditions, and how beautiful it is to bring them together.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For O’Hara, who, like Mogbeli, is on her first space flight, celebrating the holidays in space is something completely new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The holidays are always a time to get together with my family. This will be the first holiday season that I won’t be able to spend with my family,” she said. “But I’m very excited to spend it aboard with our space family here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mogbeli, O’Hara, Mogensen, and Furukawa recorded their holiday message in the Kibo Lab, built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Above their heads, a row of flags represented the many controls involved in the International Space Station (ISS) program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The ISS represents the best of us as individuals, our countries, and humanity,” O’Hara said. “It’s wonderful to look down on the Earth and have the perspective that we have here. I know it’s inspiring for all of us, and I hope it’s inspiring for everyone on Earth.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the video, Satoshi shared some of his thoughts in Japanese and sent Earth early New Year’s wishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“During the New Year holidays in Japan, the whole family usually gathers,” he said. “People visit a shrine and pray for New Year’s happiness from the International Space Station. I wish you all endless happiness and smiles.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mogensen, an ESA astronaut from Denmark, shares his Christmas wishes in Danish before his last departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“All of us on board the International Space Station wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The International Space Station is home to seven astronauts on a six-month mission in orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mogensen, Mogbeli, and Furukawa arrived at the station in August 2023 along with Borisov on SpaceX Crew-7 as part of the Expedition 69 crew and have remained on the station, which is now expanding to Expedition 70. O’Hara arrived a month later, in September, along with cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, on a Soyuz spacecraft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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