When the astronauts stranded on the International Space Station had been pictured carrying Santa hats subsequent to a tiny Christmas tree this week, web commenters had questions.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, in any case, launched in June on what was alleged to be an eight-day mission to area — however they’ve been stranded ever since due to issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule that was meant to be their trip dwelling.
“Did they take Santa hats with them earlier than they launched,” one commenter blithely requested on X. “Or did they knit them whereas they’re there?”
Another commenter chimed in: “These the identical guys who went up for an 8-day mission in June?” A 3rd commenter joked “The Gilligan’s Island tune is enjoying.”
Still others appeared to suppose that the presence of Christmas decorations had been an indication of a grand conspiracy, and that the astronauts aren’t actually caught in area. “It’s all one massive present,” writes one commenter. Another X person claimed that the astronauts floating in area had been truly in a movie studio someplace.
However, the reason is fairly easy — and, in truth, quite festive.
The Post has confirmed with NASA that the Santa hats — in addition to different decorations, particular presents for the ISS crew members and Christmas meals — had been a part of a 3-ton SpaceX supply in late November.
The International Space Station is replenished with provides a number of instances every year.
The meals supply included ham, turkey, potatoes, greens, and even pies and cookies. Other mission-specific and scientific gadgets had been a part of the supply. And with among the additional area, NASA despatched a couple of festive gadgets for the astronauts, together with the hats and Christmas tree.
In a video posted on-line, Williams wished everybody on Earth a contented vacation season.
“It’s a good time up right here, we get to spend it with all of our ‘household’ on the International Space Station,” she stated. “There are seven of us up right here and so we’re going to get to get pleasure from firm collectively.”
“One of the most effective issues that I like about Christmas is the preparation and simply preparing, the anticipation, all people getting collectively and getting ready stuff and simply preparing for the vacation,” she continued.
It’s not Williams’ first Christmas in area: she was a part of a deliberate mission in 2006 that was scheduled in the course of the yuletide.
But this Christmas, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore are alleged to be dwelling with their households by now.
The two astronauts blasted off on June 5 on a Boeing Starliner capsule destined for the ISS. They had been initially anticipated to be in orbit for a couple of week.
But the Boeing vessel was constantly plagued with points, together with leaks that made the thrusters malfunction. After a vigorous debate with Boeing, NASA opted to have the spacecraft return unmanned in September, leaving Williams and Whitmore stranded in area.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that’s at present docked to the ISS will give them a trip dwelling. It was initially scheduled to depart in early February, however that return date has now been postponed till late March.
At least publicly, the astronauts have placed on a courageous face, saying that they’re in nice spirits and good well being, regardless of footage that appeared to indicate a painfully gaunt Williams with considerably lowered physique mass.
“We’re feeling good, figuring out, consuming proper,” Williams stated in a NASA video earlier this yr. “We have lots of enjoyable up right here, too. So, you realize, persons are apprehensive about us. Really, don’t fear about us.”
