On November 27, 2025, while millions across the United States gathered for Thanksgiving dinners filled with laughter, tradition, and the familiar clatter of cutlery, a very different kind of celebration was unfolding far above the Earth. Some 250 miles overhead, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) marked the holiday in orbit, sharing a meal that blended American tradition with international camaraderie and a dash of cosmic ingenuity.
This was no ordinary Thursday for the astronauts and cosmonauts circling the globe at more than 17,000 miles per hour. As reported by BBC and NPR, the ISS crew enjoyed a rare off-duty day, pausing their scientific routines to gather for a group meal that, despite its unusual setting, felt remarkably close to home. "This is my second Thanksgiving in space, so I highly recommend it," NASA astronaut Mike Fincke declared in a video message beamed down from the station, his tone equal parts cheerful and wistful.
Making Thanksgiving special in the microgravity of space is no small feat. NASA, always attentive to the psychological well-being of its astronauts, took extra care to ensure the holiday would be memorable. According to LAist, a recent resupply mission included a "Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bag"—affectionately dubbed the BOB—packed with festive delicacies: clams, oysters, crab meat, quail, and smoked salmon. These foods, selected for both their taste and their ability to withstand the rigors of space travel, joined more traditional Thanksgiving staples such as turkey and mashed potatoes, all meticulously packaged to avoid crumbs and spills in the station’s weightless environment.
"Our ground teams and the food lab at NASA have taken such great care of us," astronaut Zena Cardman noted, expressing gratitude for the thoughtful preparations. She added, "We've even got some lobster, which is amazing. So I think it's going to be a really, really delicious meal." The menu, a blend of the familiar and the extraordinary, was designed to bring comfort and a sense of normalcy to the crew, even as they floated hundreds of miles above their loved ones.
But the holiday meal was not just about the food. It was a moment of connection—both to Earth and to each other. The crew for this special Thanksgiving included NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim; three Russian cosmonauts; and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui. As Yui observed, "We don't have Thanksgiving in Japan, but here, on ISS, everybody respects each other's culture." His words, reported by NPR, underscored the spirit of unity that defines life aboard the ISS, where international boundaries blur and shared experience reigns supreme.
The sense of family extended beyond national lines. "I'm going to miss my family, of course. But I'm up here with my space family and it's really awesome," Fincke said, his message echoing the bittersweet reality faced by astronauts spending the holidays away from home. To add a touch of home—and a bit of cross-cultural flair—the Russian space agency sent up a can of cranberry sauce, one of Fincke's favorite parts of the meal. "It's kind of neat to have that up here," he remarked, holding the can up for the camera with a grin.
As the crew prepared to sit down to their orbital feast, the ISS became even more crowded. Early that morning, at 4:27 a.m. Eastern time, a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, ferrying NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts to the station. After a swift three-hour journey, the new arrivals docked with the ISS at approximately 10:10 a.m., just in time to join the Thanksgiving meal. The arrival brought the total number of people aboard to ten, turning the station into a bustling hub of shared celebration.
Behind the scenes, the logistics of eating in space are as carefully choreographed as any rocket launch. As BBC explained, without a kitchen or refrigerator, nearly all meals are prepared and packaged on Earth. Foods are either freeze-dried or thermostabilized to prevent spoilage, and astronauts rehydrate or heat them as needed. Trays, packets, and utensils are equipped with Velcro, magnets, or straps to keep everything in place—because in microgravity, even a stray crumb can become a nuisance.
Yet, despite the technical challenges, the emotional impact of the meal was unmistakable. Mark Marquette, director of the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation, told Interesting Engineering that familiar foods and holiday rituals play a vital role in supporting the psychological health of astronauts. "Good old comfort food. And this is what I think Thanksgiving represents in space," he said. Recreating the tastes and traditions of home, even in a high-tech environment, helps astronauts feel grounded and connected to Earth—a crucial factor during long missions away from their families and communities.
For the astronauts, the day was about more than just food. It was a chance to reflect, to express gratitude, and to celebrate the unique bond they share as explorers on the frontier of human achievement. The ISS, after all, is more than a laboratory or an outpost; it's a symbol of what people from different nations can accomplish when they work together. As Yui put it, "Here, on ISS, everybody respects each other's culture." That spirit of mutual respect and shared purpose was on full display during the Thanksgiving meal, as crew members from the United States, Russia, and Japan sat down together—floating, of course—to savor a meal that was as much about unity as it was about sustenance.
Even as they enjoyed lobster, smoked salmon, and cranberry sauce in orbit, the astronauts knew their celebration was being watched and cheered by those on the ground. Their holiday, though unconventional, was a reminder that gratitude, togetherness, and a good meal can bridge even the vastest distances. Thanksgiving in space, it turns out, is not so different from Thanksgiving on Earth: it's about pausing, sharing, and feeling connected—no matter how far from home you might be.
