Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are preparing for a unique Thanksgiving celebration, complete with traditional food and the scheduled arrival of three new crew members. The Expedition 73 crew plans to share a special meal that includes turkey, mashed potatoes, and even lobster, all while orbiting 250 miles above Earth.
The holiday will be marked by the arrival of the Soyuz MS-28 mission, carrying NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. Their spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Kazakhstan on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, and dock with the station just over three hours later, in time to join the festivities.
Key Takeaways
- Expedition 73 astronauts on the ISS are planning a Thanksgiving dinner with a menu including turkey, lobster, and crab meat.
- Three new crew members are expected to arrive on Thanksgiving Day via the Soyuz MS-28 mission.
- The celebration highlights the importance of shared meals and traditions for crew morale during long-duration spaceflights.
- The event underscores the ongoing international cooperation between NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos aboard the station.
A Holiday Meal Unlike Any Other
For the astronauts of Expedition 73, Thanksgiving is more than just a meal; it’s a carefully planned event that brings a taste of home to the sterile environment of space. The crew shared their plans in a recent video transmission, showcasing the special food packages sent from Earth.
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, on her first spaceflight, explained the significance of these shared moments. "Food is a really important part of everyday life up here, and staying happy and healthy," she said. "We share a lot of meals, and so this one is just going to be extra special."
The menu is a mix of traditional American fare and some surprising delicacies. Veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is celebrating his second Thanksgiving in orbit, displayed packets of turkey and cranberry sauce. He noted a unique international twist to the meal.
"This cranberry sauce is actually Russian cranberry, so it's kind of neat to have that up here because that's one of my favorite parts," Fincke commented while floating inside the Destiny research module.
Thanksgiving Menu in Zero Gravity
- Main Courses: Turkey, Salmon, Crab Meat, Lobster
- Side Dishes: Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce (Russian)
- Preparation: Foods are typically thermostabilized or freeze-dried and must be rehydrated or heated in special ovens.
Expecting Company for Dinner
The celebration is set to become more crowded with the arrival of the Soyuz MS-28 crew. The mission is scheduled for a pre-dawn launch at 4:27 a.m. EST from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Thanks to a fast-track, two-orbit trajectory, the new crew is expected to dock with the station's Rassvet module at 7:38 a.m. EST.
This rapid three-hour journey ensures that Williams, Kud-Sverchkov, and Mikaev will be aboard the station and ready to join their new colleagues for the holiday meal. Fincke confirmed the current crew is already preparing for their arrival. "I'm going to miss my family, of course, but I'm up here with my space family… We're looking forward to the food up here, and the company."
The Importance of Crew Cohesion
Living and working in a confined, high-stress environment like the ISS makes crew morale and psychological well-being critical mission components. Shared rituals, such as holiday meals, are vital for strengthening bonds between international crew members, fostering a sense of normalcy, and providing a mental break from the demanding schedule of scientific research and station maintenance.
A Moment for Reflection and Gratitude
Beyond the food, the astronauts emphasized the personal meaning of the holiday. For first-time spaceflyer and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, Thanksgiving offers a valuable opportunity for introspection.
He described the holiday as a moment "to kind of pause, and slow down, and reflect on our lives — the people we cherish in our lives, and all the support we've had on this journey." This sentiment is particularly poignant for astronauts who spend months away from their families and loved ones on Earth.
The cultural exchange aboard the station was also highlighted by Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). While Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Japan, Yui expressed his appreciation for the tradition's core values.
"Respect, and also appreciation to others," Yui said, is what he enjoys about the holiday, calling it "a very good tradition." It is customary for the multinational crew of the ISS to observe and participate in the holidays of their international partners, strengthening the collaborative spirit of the orbiting laboratory.
An International Gathering
The current ISS crew is a diverse group, including NASA astronauts Fincke, Cardman, and Kim, JAXA's Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov. While the American and Russian segments of the station often operate on separate schedules, shared meals for significant events are a common practice.
The arrival of a new mixed crew from NASA and Roscosmos on Thanksgiving Day further cements this tradition of unity. As the astronauts gather around their makeshift dinner table, they will represent a powerful symbol of international cooperation, sharing a meal that bridges cultures and continents, all while floating together in the vastness of space.