What the Astronauts Whose Return to Earth Was Delayed Will Eat in Space for Christmas Dinner

Mar. 15, 2025

Suni Williams.Photo:NASA via SWNS

NASA via SWNS

Christmas dinner in outer space coming up!

AstronautsSuni Williams, 59, andButch Wilmore, 61, have been in outer space since June — but although they will be spending Christmas away from Earth, there is still a way for them to enjoy a festive dinner at the International Space Center.

Williams and Wilmore are set for a Christmas feast, with a menu that includes smoked oysters, crab, duck foie gras, pâté, cranberry sauce, Atlantic lobster, croquettes and smoked salmon, according to U.K. publicationThe Times,

(L-R) Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images

MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images

The American astronauts will have the day off, per the outlet, but are still required to maintain their regular fitness routines on both the treadmill and resistance machine in order to maintain their bone and muscle strength.

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Chloe Mehring, a NASA flight director, also said that the day off will allow the astronauts to connect with family.

“They’ll have the day off to talk to family, send emails, they can use the IP phone [internet phone]. We totally understand the challenges of being isolated up there with only each other … yes, it does maybe take a bit of a toll, but they have been very professional and are handling it really well,” Mehring said.

In the festive snapshot, the astronaut wore aSanta hatwhile speaking on a ham radio inside the International Space Station’s Columbus laboratory module.

“Another day, another sleigh,” wrote the research institute in Houston.

Last month, the crew also opened up about how they celebratedThanksgivingduring an interview withNBC News.

“We have a bunch of food that we’ve packed away that is Thanksgiving-ish," said Williams, who noted she planned to watch theMacy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. “Some smoked turkey, some cranberry, apple cobbler, green beans and mushrooms and mashed potatoes.”

In an interview with Lester Holt onNBC Nightly Newsthat same month, Williams said she and Wilmore were “feeling good, working out, eating right — it’s just awesome.”

“We have a lot of fun up here too,” she added. “People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us … we’re a happy crew up here.”

Earlier this month, NASAannouncedthe spacecraft that will ferry four astronauts to the International Space Station to retrieve Williams and Wilmore — as well as Hague and Gorbunov — from outer space won’t be ready to launch until “no earlier than late March 2025.”

This timeline differs from NASA’sprevious statementthat the astronauts would return home to Earth in February 2025.

(L-R) Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.Joe Raedle/Getty

Joe Raedle/Getty

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According to NASA, the month-long delay allows the NASA and SpaceX teams time to “complete processing” on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission, which will offer “the best option for meeting NASA’s requirements and achieving space station objectives for 2025.”

source: people.com