Astronauts send a Christmas message of hope to Earth from the International Space Station

Seven astronauts celebrating the holiday season on board the ship International Space StationBut that doesn’t stop them from returning the joy of the holiday back to Earth.

Expedition crew members take 64 days off, but NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, Kate Robbins, and astronaut of the Japanese space program Sochi Noguchi are still taking some time. send a message From “flexibility” back home during specials Difficult Holiday season.

“Resilience” is also their name SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule That launched four astronauts to the space station last month.

“We chose this name in honor of the people around the world and the teams that help make our mission possible in a year that has changed our entire lives,” said Hopkins. “We also want to remember everyone we lost this year.”

“There couldn’t be a more appropriate name to describe 2020,” Glover added. “The resilience of the human spirit is something we can really celebrate in this special season.”

.Embed a Tweet Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, Kate Robins, and W. JAXA_en Astronaut Soichi Noguchi contemplates an unprecedented year and reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit as we enter the new year. pic.twitter.com/zK9CgG9ZdA

– International Space Station (Space_Station) December 22, 2020

“As we prepare to celebrate away from our loved ones, we look at our precious planet below, and it becomes clear how connected we really are,” Walker said.

Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Noguchi set off to the station in November, joining Robins as well as Russian astronauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kod-Svershkov, who will spend Christmas relaxing, contacting family and friends and sharing a festive meal together.

Glover said: “My family is on Earth definitely in my thoughts, in my prayers, and in my socks.” Another videoPointing to his specially designed socks with photos of family members. “But it also makes me think of all the people who also cannot spend vacations with their families,” he added, thanking service members and health care workers during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, prof SpaceX Dragon cargo ship They arrived at the International Space Station with new supplies – including Christmas gifts and wares. Roast turkey, cranberry sauce, cornbread sauce, cherry blueberry cobbler, potato or gratin, cookies and other vaccinations for a holiday feast for seven people before the holiday.

Walker said the holidays “stand for the three Fs – family, friends and food.”

Noguchi also received a special food item from a group of Japanese students from Wakasa High School: a small packet of mackerel.

“We hope you will also be able to seize the opportunity to celebrate the holidays before we turn the calendar into a new year, with renewed hope and spirit for the future,” Noguchi said.

Exp 64 astronauts talk vacations away from family and friends, show off some of their gifts and issue an ornate challenge to Mission Control in Embed a Tweet. pic.twitter.com/sNcssj6Eio

– International Space Station (Space_Station) December 24, 2020

Robbins said the crew is hosting a contest this Christmas against the Mission Control team at Johnson Space Center – which team decorates their workstations with the best DIY decor out of their in space and in Mission Control, wins.

“I know you issued a challenge and let me just say, ‘Has the challenge been accepted,'” said Zebulon Scoville, NASA’s flight director, wearing a festive jacket and tie. “I might have to cut this coat off to turn it into something new.”

Santa’s sleigh privately stopped on the International Space Station for the first time, according to him Norad, North American Air Defense Command, which “tracks” Santa’s flights every year. The Federal Aviation Administration approved Santa for a trip into space on Wednesday, and granted him a commercial space license for a manned mission to the International Space Station aboard the “StarSleigh-1 space capsule, powered by Rudolph’s missile.”

“Let’s face it, 2020 has been a difficult year and we can all use some special holiday joy that only Santa can provide,” said Steve Dickson, Federal Aviation Administration director.