New York: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), added a festive touch to their Christmas celebrations by donning Santa hats, igniting a wave of conspiracy theories on social media. In a video shared by NASA, Williams wore a red t-shirt while three of her fellow astronauts sported the festive hats, prompting online speculation about their preparations.
Social media users quickly theorized about the astronauts’ extended stay on the ISS and their access to holiday items. One user questioned whether they had brought Christmas decorations months in advance, while another wondered how they anticipated needing such items for a mission initially planned to last only eight days. A third user asked who delivered the hats and decorations, pointing out the limited storage in the spacecraft.
Williams and her colleagues have been aboard the ISS since June. Their eight-day mission turned into a months-long endeavor due to a Starliner spacecraft malfunction. Initially slated to return in February, their timeline was extended to March.
NASA addressed the theories, explaining that the festive items were part of a three-ton supply shipment delivered by SpaceX in November. The shipment included Christmas hats, a tree, holiday meals like ham, turkey, and pies, as well as essential mission supplies. The space agency clarified that the ISS is regularly resupplied throughout the year to ensure the astronauts have everything they need.
In a video message, the astronauts shared their holiday greetings from space. “Welcome to the International Space Station as we prepare for the Christmas holidays,” said Williams. “It’s a wonderful time up here, and we’re enjoying it with our ‘family’ of seven aboard the ISS.” She added, “One of the best things about Christmas is the anticipation and preparation—everyone coming together to get ready for the holiday.”
The festive celebration highlighted the astronauts’ ability to maintain a sense of normalcy and joy despite the challenges of extended space travel.
