Stranded astronauts celebrating holidays in festive gear sparks questions

Published Dec 25, 2024  •  2 minute read

Astronauts from L to R: Nick Hague, Don Pettit, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams celebrating the holidays on the International Space Station. Photo by Nick Hague /Instagram

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station, made the most of their holiday season.

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The two, who have been stuck in space since June, posed for festive photos which were shared on social media.

One image shows Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts, Nick Hague and Don Pettit, wearing Santa Claus hats inside the space station’s Columbus laboratory module.

Another post shows Williams in Christmas mode with the caption reading, “From Earth to the stars, holiday spirit knows no bounds.”

However, many wondered how the astronauts had Santa hats and a small Christmas tree when they were only supposed to be in space for eight days.

“Did they take Santa hats with them before they launched,” one X user asked. “Or did they knit them while they are there?”

Another curious person questioned, “Isn’t this the team that is stuck in space? How did they get the Christmas decor?? And don’t tell me Amazon delivered.”

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One person claimed the astronauts aren’t really stranded, calling it “one big show” while a second user claimed they were actually in a film studio, not in space.

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However, NASA dashed those conspiracy theories and told the New York Post that the Santa hats, decorations, presents and special meals for the ISS crew members were part of a three-ton SpaceX shipment last month.

The Christmas menu included smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, pâté, cranberry sauce, Atlantic lobster, croquettes and smoked salmon, the U.K. Times reported.

In a video posted online, Williams wished everyone on Earth a happy holiday season.

“It’s a great time up here, we get to spend it with all of our ‘family’ on the International Space Station,” she said. “There are seven of us up here and so we’re going to get to enjoy company together.”

She added: “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 continued.

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The two astronauts went into space on June 5 on a Boeing Starliner capsule destined for the ISS, and were initially expected to be in orbit for just over a week.

But the Boeing vessel was plagued with issues, prompting NASA to have the spacecraft return unmanned in September, leaving Williams and Whitmore in outer space.

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that is currently docked to the ISS will give them a ride home.

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The spacecraft was originally slated to return in February but the return date has been pushed to late March.

But the astronauts appear to be in good spirits and health, at least publicly.

“We’re feeling good, working out, eating right,” Williams said in a NASA video earlier this year.

“We have a lot of fun up here, too,” she added. “So, you know, people are worried about us. Really, don’t worry about us.”

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