Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Handout photo dated November 25, 2021 shows Expedition 66 crew members gather for a Thanksgiving meal inside the International Space Station's Unity module. From left, are NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn with Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. iss066e083008 . Since 1973, astronauts have celebrated Thanksgiving in space, bringing a cherished tradition far beyond Earth. The first Thanksgiving in orbit took place aboard Skylab during the Skylab 4 mission, where astronauts Gerald Carr, Edward Gibson, and William Pogue marked the day with an improvised meal after a spacewalk. Over the years, this tradition has evolved, with crews on shuttles, space stations, and orbiters finding creative ways to honor the holiday. From shrimp cocktail and irradiated turkey aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1985 to tortilla-based meals introduced by Mexican astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela, culinary adaptations have played a key role. Thanksgiving in space often features improvised decorations, shared greetings,

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

Handout photo shows Support teams work around the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer aboard, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Tampa, Florida, Friday, May 6, 2022. Maurer, Marshburn, Chari, and Barron are returning after 177 days in space as part of Expeditions 66 and 67 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by NASA/Aubrey Gemignani via ABACAPRESS.COM

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

Handout photo shows The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft is seen shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer aboard, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Tampa, Florida, Friday, May 6, 2022. Maurer, Marshburn, Chari, and Barron are returning after 177 days in space as part of Expeditions 66 and 67 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by NASA/Aubrey Gemignani via ABACAPRESS.COM

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 Returns To Earth

Handout photo shows Support teams work around the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, Tom Marshburn, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer aboard, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Tampa, Florida, Friday, May 6, 2022. Maurer, Marshburn, Chari, and Barron are returning after 177 days in space as part of Expeditions 66 and 67 aboard the International Space Station. Photo by NASA/Aubrey Gemignani via ABACAPRESS.COM