Internet commenters wondered this week when astronauts stranded on the International Space Station were photographed wearing Santa hats next to a small Christmas tree.
As it turns out, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams set out on an eight-day mission to space in June, but have been stranded ever since due to problems with the Boeing Starliner capsule they were scheduled to return home to. There is. .
One commenter lightheartedly asked X, “Did they take the Santa hats before the launch?” “Or did you knit it while you were there?”
Another commenter countered: “Are these the same people who went on an 8-day mission in June?” A third commenter joked: “Gilligan's Island song is playing.”
Additionally, some believe that the presence of Christmas decorations is a sign of a grand conspiracy and that the astronauts are not actually trapped in space. “It's all one big show,” one commenter wrote. Another X user claimed that the astronauts floating in space were actually at some movie studio.
However, the explanation is quite simple and actually rather festive.
The Post told NASA that Santa hats, other decorations, special presents for ISS crew members and Christmas meals were part of a 3-ton package shipped from SpaceX in late November. I confirmed that.
The International Space Station is restocked with supplies several times a year.
Food deliveries included hams, turkeys, potatoes, vegetables, and even pies and cookies. Other mission-specific and scientific items were also part of the delivery. And NASA used some of the space to send some festive items to the astronauts, including hats and Christmas trees.
In a video posted online, Williams wished everyone on earth a happy holiday season.
“It's a great time to spend time here. You get to spend time with your whole 'family' on the International Space Station,” she said. “There are seven of us here, so we're going to have a good time together.”
“One of my favorite things about Christmas is the preparation, the preparation, the anticipation, everyone coming together to get ready and prepare for the holiday,” she continued. Ta.
This isn't Williams' first Christmas in space. She was participating in a mission planned for Christmas time in 2006.
But this Christmas, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore should be home with their families by now.
The two astronauts took off on June 5th aboard a Boeing Starliner capsule bound for the ISS. Initially, they were expected to be in orbit for about a week.
But Boeing's ships have always been plagued by problems, including leaks that cause thrusters to malfunction. After heated discussions with Boeing, NASA opted to return the spacecraft uncrewed in September, leaving Williams and Whitmore stranded in space.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, currently docked at the ISS, could be used to bring them home. They were originally scheduled to depart in early February, but their return date was postponed to late March.
Publicly, at least, the astronauts put up a brave face, saying they are well and in good health, despite the photos appearing to show Williams looking painfully thin and having lost a lot of weight. are.
“We're feeling good, we're exercising, we're eating right,” Williams said in a NASA video earlier this year. “We're having a lot of fun here, too. So people are worried about us. Really, don't worry about us.”
