Feasting on Thanksgiving thousands of miles above Earth, with turkey, mashed potatoes, and even lobster, sounds like something out of science fiction—but for the astronauts on the International Space Station, it is very real and very personal. And this is the part most people miss: for them, the holiday isn’t just about special food; it’s about creating a sense of home and family in one of the most isolated workplaces imaginable.
NASA astronauts living and working on the International Space Station plan to mark Thanksgiving with a festive meal shared with newly arrived crewmates, much like families gathering across the United States. They are setting up a holiday dinner that blends tradition, innovation, and the unique realities of life in microgravity.
Four-time NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is now celebrating his second American Thanksgiving in orbit after his earlier stay during Expedition 18 from October 2008 to April 2009, explained in a video message that the crew has already started preparing food for the newcomers. In the crowded Destiny laboratory module, where most U.S. science activities take place, he showed the camera packages of turkey and cranberry sauce floating in front of him as he spoke.
In a fun twist, Fincke pointed out that the cranberry sauce they have on board is actually a Russian version of the dish, something he finds especially meaningful because cranberry sauce is one of his favorite parts of Thanksgiving. Carefully pulling food packets from a plastic bag while his crewmates drifted between experiments and laptops attached to the walls, he acknowledged that he will miss his family on Earth. But he also emphasized that he has a “space family” on the station, and that they are excited not only about the special meal but also about spending time together.
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, currently on her first trip to space, highlighted how important food is for both emotional well-being and physical health in orbit. She explained that sharing meals is a big part of daily life on the station, and that this particular dinner will feel extra meaningful compared with a typical day. Their support teams on the ground, along with the NASA food laboratory, have put a lot of effort into providing a dedicated holiday food bag just for this occasion.
That food bag, Cardman said, includes classic Thanksgiving staples such as turkey and other traditional dishes Fincke mentioned, as well as mashed potatoes to round out the comfort-food vibe. But here’s where it gets controversial—in the best way: the menu goes far beyond what most people expect from space food, with items like crab meat, salmon, and even lobster making an appearance. How many Thanksgiving tables on Earth can say they match that?
For Korean-American NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, also flying his first mission, Thanksgiving in space represents more than just an impressive menu. He said he is looking forward to using the holiday as a chance to slow down, step back from busy schedules, and reflect on the bigger picture of his life and career. To him, the day offers a moment to appreciate the people he cares about and to recognize all the support that helped him reach this point in his journey.
The spirit of the celebration extends beyond American traditions. Kimiya Yui, a two-time space traveler with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), noted that Thanksgiving is not a holiday observed in Japan. Even so, he is happy to join the celebration on Thursday in line with the custom on the station, where astronauts often participate in one another’s national and cultural holidays. But here’s where it gets interesting: Yui especially values the way Thanksgiving emphasizes respect and gratitude toward others, which he described as a very positive and meaningful tradition.
The current crew also includes Russian cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Historically, the American and Russian segments of the station have managed their own schedules and public outreach separately, reflecting different organizational structures and priorities. However, astronauts and cosmonauts frequently team up for major operations in orbit and often eat together, so it would not be surprising if the Russian crew members take part in the Thanksgiving festivities alongside their American colleagues.
These celebrations are taking place during Expedition 73, which began in April and is expected to conclude later in the year. NASA has not yet announced a specific return date for the U.S.-Japanese group currently aboard, but the plan is for them to head back to Earth sometime after the incoming Soyuz crew has settled into their roles and responsibilities on the orbiting laboratory. That overlap helps keep the station continuously staffed and running smoothly while also allowing newer arrivals to learn from more experienced residents.
The story of this Thanksgiving in space was written by Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., a spaceflight journalist who focused on Canadian space developments while working on the spaceflight news team between 2022 and 2024. She contributed to Space.com for a decade, from 2012 through 2024, building a reputation for detailed reporting and insightful coverage of human spaceflight.
Over the course of her career, Howell has landed multiple exclusive interviews, including some with officials at the White House, and has covered memorable and unusual stories such as the discovery of a once-lost tomato aboard the ISS. Her experience includes watching five human space launches on two different continents, flying on parabolic flights that simulate weightlessness, working inside a spacesuit, and taking part in a simulated mission to Mars—experiences that give her reporting a grounded, firsthand perspective.
She is also the co-author of the book “Why Am I Taller?” published in 2022 by ECW Press, written together with astronaut Dave Williams. The book explores how spaceflight affects the human body—for example, why astronauts often come back slightly taller than before—and connects those insights to broader questions about health, resilience, and life in extreme environments.
But here’s where it might spark some debate: does bringing luxuries like lobster and elaborate holiday traditions into space make human missions feel more relatable and sustainable, or does it risk distracting from the scientific purpose of the station? Should astronauts focus more on work or on recreating life from Earth as closely as possible while they’re away? Would you celebrate a holiday in orbit exactly as you do at home, or would you prefer to create new traditions that reflect life in space? Share whether you’re all-in on “lobster in space” Thanksgiving—or think it should stay simple and symbolic—in the comments.
