Four astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) took the time to share holiday cheers since they are away from their loved ones this year for space exploration. The video was released just in time for Christmas.
ISS Astronauts Greet Everyone Happy Holidays
Andreas Mogensen of ESA, Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA, Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA, and Loral O'Hara of NASA dressed in red and green Santa hats shared in a short clip uploaded on YouTube what it's like to celebrate the holidays away from Earth. The foursome recorded their Christmas greeting inside the Kibo laboratory, constructed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. A series of aloft flags represent the controls participating in the International Space Station (ISS) program.
It is O'Hara and Moghbeli's first holiday celebration in space. O'Hara said that holidays are the time for families to be together. However, despite being away from her family this year, she was thrilled to be on board for the mission and spend the holidays with her space family.
"The ISS represents the best of all of us as individuals, and in our countries and in humanity," O'Hara added. "It's beautiful to look down on Earth and have that perspective that we get to have up here. I know it inspires all of us, and I hope it inspires all of you on Earth as well."
Moghbeli said that for her, the holidays have evolved in "a very beautiful way over time." She celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah and even brought a felt menorah to the station for the season. Moghbeli seemingly hinted that she and her husband had two different cultures, and they fused the two cultures in their holiday traditions, which they shared with their two little girls.
"And it's just a reminder of the connection of all humans," she added. "Different cultures and traditions and how beautiful it is when we bring those together."
Satoshi also spoke about the New Year tradition in Japan. According to him, the Japanese usually visit the shrines and pray for New Year's happiness. He wished everyone the same -- New Year's happiness -- from ISS.
Mogensen echoed his companions' well wishes to the public.
"From all of us onboard the International Space Station, we wish you happy holidays and a Happy New Year," he said.
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Astronauts in ISS
Seven astronauts are stationed at the International Space Station for a six-month orbital assignment. Although they are part of the crew, the holiday video does not feature Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Oleg Kononenko, and Konstantin Borisov.
Borisov, Mogensen, Moghbeli, and Furukawa arrived at the station in August 2023 as part of Expedition 69 aboard SpaceX's Crew-7 spacecraft, and they remained there for the current Expedition 70 increment. Cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub, O'Hara landed one month later aboard a Soyuz spacecraft in September.
Kononenko and Chub conducted a spacewalk in October when they encountered a coolant leak. Kononenko's tethers became polluted because he was close to the
expanding "blob" or "droplet" of ammonia. The extravehicular activity (EVA) lasted seven hours and 41 minutes.
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