A Christmas photo shared by NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station has everyone wondering how they got their hands on Christmas treats.
The images, which feature Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams and other NASA astronauts wearing Santa Claus hats, were posted earlier this week to celebrate the holidays.
The two test pilots have been stranded in space since June, when they took off on Boeing’s first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. But their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided in September to return the company’s problem-plagued Starliner capsule empty.
This has led many on social media to wonder how the astronauts received the Christmas decorations they showed in their holiday photos.
One X user wrote: ‘who delivered the Santa hats and decorations??
“So…you’ve thought far enough in advance to pack them when extra space in the capsule is very expensive?” hmm.’
Another echoed this sentiment, adding, “I’m just wondering how they still live with 8 days of food and Christmas decorations?”
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Nick Haag and Don Petitt pose for a vacation photo on the International Space Station
Many on social media wondered how the stranded astronauts got the Christmas decorations they showed in their holiday video. Williams is pictured with astronaut Don Pettit
A third wondered: ‘How much did it cost to send Santa hats?’
The viral question prompted Commander Nick Haag to reveal that the crew received the goodies in a shipment from Earth six months ago.
“You don’t have to go to the mall at the last minute to get gifts on @SpaceSation,” Den Haag said.
“A team of elves had to wrap these presents six months ago!”
In a holiday video, Williams said: ‘It’s a great time here, we get to spend it with our whole ‘family’ on the International Space Station.
‘There are seven of us here so we can enjoy company together.’
Mission Commander Williams and Flight Engineer Wilmore took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5 for a test flight of Boeing’s new Starliner capsule.
The plan was to retrieve Starliner from the atmosphere, perform a few test maneuvers and dock with the ISS for an eight-day stay before returning to Earth in the same capsule.
However, things started going wrong almost immediately for the trouble-plagued capsule, as the craft suffered bow thruster issues and a helium leak.
The viral question prompted Commander Nick Haag to reveal that the crew received the goodies in a shipment from Earth six months ago
While Williams and Wilmore were safely delivered to the ISS, by the time Starliner arrived, further helium leaks had developed and five of the 28 thrusters had failed.
After weeks of testing, NASA determined it was not safe for the astronauts to return aboard the Starliner as originally planned.
In September, Starliner was returned to Earth empty, landing in New Mexico after slowing its descent with parachutes.
Mission Commander Williams and Flight Engineer Wilmore took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 5 for a test flight of Boeing’s new Starliner capsule.
The plan was to drive Starliner out of the atmosphere, perform a few test maneuvers and dock with the ISS for an eight-day stay before returning to Earth in the same capsule.
However, things started going wrong almost immediately for the trouble-plagued capsule, as the craft suffered bow thruster problems and a helium leak.
While Williams and Wilmore were safely delivered to the ISS, by the time Starliner arrived, further helium leaks had developed and five of the 28 thrusters had failed.
After weeks of testing, NASA decided it was not safe for the astronauts to return aboard the Starliner as originally planned.
Mission Commander Williams and Flight Engineer Wilmore are not expected to be rescued until March. They are pictured with their crew members on the ISS
A satellite image shows an overview of the International Space Station with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on June 7
In September, shortly after Starliner’s return, NASA’s Crew 9 mission launched from Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon crew capsule.
Two of the mission’s original crew members stayed behind on Earth, freeing up a seat for Williams and Wilmore.
Crew 9 has reached the ISS safely, but Boeing’s stranded astronauts still cannot leave the station before a replacement crew arrives.
Under the original plan, NASA would send the four astronauts from Crew 10 to the ISS in February next year in a brand new SpaceX Dragon capsule.
After a “handoff period” to help Crew 10 get started, Williams, Wilmore and the members of Crew 9 would return to Earth in their original capsule at the end of the month.
However, NASA has now revealed that the new SpaceX capsule will not be ready in time to meet that deadline.
The Starliner spacecraft will dock with the International Space Station’s Harmony module on June 13
The capsule is not expected to arrive at the company’s processing facility in Florida until early January and will require more than a month of testing before it is ready.
NASA is now targeting no earlier than the end of March 2025 to launch the rescue crew, meaning Williams and Wilmore may not return to Earth until April.
The space agency claims the ISS is well stocked with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing and oxygen, adding that a recent resupply has even brought in some “special items” to help celebrate the holidays.