Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Handout photo dated November 22, 2001 shows Astronaut Frank L. Culbertson (left), Expedition 3 mission commander, and cosmonaut Vladimir N. Dezhurov, flight engineer representing Rosaviakosmos, eat a Thanksgiving meal in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). ISS003-E-08151 . 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 decora

Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Thanksgiving Beyond Earth

Handout photo dated November 22, 2001 shows Cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin (left), Expedition 3 flight engineer, and astronaut Frank L. Culbertson, mission commander, eat a Thanksgiving meal in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). Tyurin represents Rosaviakosmos. ISS003-E-08147 . 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 decora