Regardless of being stranded 1000’s of miles from Earth, NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are embracing the vacation spirit aboard the Worldwide House Station (ISS).

In a submit shared by NASA on Instagram, Williams, alongside fellow astronaut Don Pettit, donned pink Santa hats for a cheerful portrait.

“One other day, one other sleigh,” the submit captioned the December 16 snapshot of Williams and Pettit flashing smiles whereas talking on a ham radio within the ISS’s Columbus laboratory module. “Don Pettit and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander, pose for a enjoyable vacation season portrait.”

The festive picture sparked curiosity amongst followers in regards to the sudden vacation apparel.

“The place did the Santa hats come from in the event that they’ve been caught up there for months and solely deliberate a brief journey?” One commenter requested, “Appears an odd pointless to have readily available…”

One other added, “Eight-day mission, occurred to have Santa hats.”

“The place do the hats come from??? You went up for a deliberate 8 days within the SUMMER!!!! Why do you’ve Christmas hats?????” Another person ranted.

Williams and Wilmore left Earth on June 5 on what was alleged to be an eight-day mission to check that spacecraft — however after struggling issues earlier than and through its launch, the Starliner bumped into extra on its approach to the house station, and they’re nonetheless not again virtually eight months later.

Others on Instagram identified that there have been affordable explanations for the festive headwear.

“Y’all do notice there are different ppl on the ISS and there are house businesses that ship provides to the ISS,” one consumer wrote, whereas one other added: “How do individuals not notice there’s resupply missions and so they’ve prob had these up there.”

The astronauts boarded the ISS in November, simply forward of Thanksgiving. Although Williams and Wilmore couldn’t be with their households for the vacation, they made probably the most of their celebration in orbit.

Throughout an interview with NBC Nightly Information on November 27, Williams revealed that she, Pettit, astronaut Nick Hague, and three Russian cosmonauts joined the duo for the vacation meal.

“We have now a bunch of meals that we’ve packed away that’s Thanksgiving-ish,” she stated. “Some smoked turkey, some cranberry, apple cobbler, inexperienced beans and mushrooms and mashed potatoes.”

Whereas the astronauts have been anticipated to return to Earth in February 2025, NASA lately introduced additional delays. Their replacements on the ISS is not going to launch till March or April, pushing their return date again as soon as once more.

Regardless of the sudden extension, Williams assured involved followers that they’re faring properly. “We’re feeling good, figuring out, consuming proper,” she stated earlier this yr. “We have now a variety of enjoyable up right here, too. So, you realize, individuals are anxious about us. Actually, don’t fear about us.”