Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are celebrating Thanksgiving with a special meal that includes turkey, lobster, and cultural sharing, all while welcoming new crew members. As families across the United States gather for traditional festivities, the six astronauts currently in orbit are making the most of their unique holiday experience, 250 miles above Earth.
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is celebrating his second Thanksgiving in space, expressed his enthusiasm in a video message. “This is my second Thanksgiving in space, so I highly recommend it,” he stated. The holiday spirit has been carefully curated by NASA, which included a special “Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bag,” or BOB, in a recent resupply mission to ensure the crew could enjoy a meaningful meal.
The festive menu features not only traditional Thanksgiving staples like turkey and mashed potatoes, but also a variety of seafood options such as clams, oysters, crab meat, quail, and smoked salmon. Zena Cardman, another NASA astronaut, praised the thoughtful preparations made by the ground teams and the food lab at NASA, stating, “Our ground teams and the food lab at NASA have taken such great care of us.” She added, “We’ve even got some lobster, which is amazing. So I think it’s going to be a really, really delicious meal.”
The emotional weight of the occasion is palpable for the astronauts. Fincke highlighted the bittersweet feelings of being away from loved ones, saying, “I’m going to miss my family, of course. But I’m up here with my space family and it’s really awesome.” The crew also includes three Russian cosmonauts and Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who emphasized the importance of cultural respect aboard the ISS. “We don’t have Thanksgiving in Japan, but here, on ISS, everybody respects each other’s culture,” he remarked.
A full house on the ISS adds to the festive atmosphere. The arrival of Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts on November 27, 2023, after a successful launch aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, has increased the crew count to ten. The spacecraft launched at 04:27 EST and docked with the ISS after a swift three-hour flight, allowing the new arrivals to join the Thanksgiving celebration.
Food plays a crucial role in maintaining emotional well-being for astronauts in isolation. Mark Marquette, museum director with the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation, noted that holiday meals serve as comfort food, helping astronauts feel grounded. “Good old comfort food. And this is what I think Thanksgiving represents in space,” he explained. He added that recreating familiar dishes fosters a sense of humanity and supports psychological well-being during long missions.
Even in microgravity, Thanksgiving serves as a moment to pause, share, and feel connected. As astronauts gather to celebrate, they continue to exemplify the spirit of unity and respect that transcends cultural boundaries, reinforcing the idea that even in the vastness of space, the essence of the holiday remains the same.
