What astronauts will eat for Christmas dinner on board the ISS

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have a treat to look forward to after successfully taking delivery of their Christmas dinner.

The three-strong team will be treated to smoked turkey, a green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce and fruitcake.

The delivery was sent via Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule and was received by Commander Alexander Gerst. 

Musk’s astro-firm SpaceX worked with NASA to ship the delivery, which also included shortbread and biscuits with tubes of icing for decoration.

In addition to the food the Dragon delivered 40 mice and 36,000 worms for a science experiment and more than 5,000 pounds of other station equipment. 

 

The delivery was sent via Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule, pictured here carrying the Christmas dinner during the launch, and was received by Commander Alexander Gerst three days later. Musk’s astro-firm SpaceX worked with NASA to ship the delivery

Commander Alexander Gerst used the ISS’s giant robotic arm to grab the cargo and bring it on board.

A first attempt at delivery failed due to difficulties with communications equipment, causing the Dragon to be too far away from the arm for it to capture the payload. 

Writing on Twitter, the official International Space Station’s account wrote: ‘The @SpaceX #Dragon blasted off today at 1:16pm ET on a three-day ride to the space station. 

‘The cargo craft will deliver over 5,600 pounds of science, supplies and hardware to the Exp 57 crew when it arrives.’

There are currently six astronauts at the ISS after three arrived in a successful launch earlier this week, leaving three on board for Christmas day.

Although the three – Anne McClain, David Saint-Jacques and Oleg Kononenko – will be returning back to Earth for the holiday season on December 20th. 

They joined NASA’s crew on the space station, Serena Aunon-Chancellor, Russian Sergei Prokopyev and German Alexander Gerst.

Before their return, they are spending their time doing research and experiments in biology, Earth science, physical sciences and technology.  

Astronauts including Commander Alexander Gerst, pictured in the ISS, have successfully received a delivery of their Christmas dinner. The three-strong team will be treated to smoked turkey, a green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce and fruitcake

Astronauts including Commander Alexander Gerst, pictured in the ISS, have successfully received a delivery of their Christmas dinner. The three-strong team will be treated to smoked turkey, a green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce and fruitcake

The space station has housed astronauts every Christmas since 2000. Since then, astronauts have dressed up in Santa hats, decorate the ISS with a small Christmas tree and stockings, and enjoy a Christmas dinner

The space station has housed astronauts every Christmas since 2000. Since then, astronauts have dressed up in Santa hats, decorate the ISS with a small Christmas tree and stockings, and enjoy a Christmas dinner

Much of the menu is made up of vacuum-packed, dehydrated food, which is prepared by adding water and heat in space. They'll use a specialised piece of equipment called the space food re-hydrator, which uses water left over as a by-product of the space station's fuel cells

Much of the menu is made up of vacuum-packed, dehydrated food, which is prepared by adding water and heat in space. They’ll use a specialised piece of equipment called the space food re-hydrator, which uses water left over as a by-product of the space station’s fuel cells

In addition to the Christmas dinner,  the Dragon delivered 40 mice and 36,000 worms for a science experiment and more than 5,000 pounds of other station equipment. Pictured: The International Space Station

In addition to the Christmas dinner,  the Dragon delivered 40 mice and 36,000 worms for a science experiment and more than 5,000 pounds of other station equipment. Pictured: The International Space Station

Over the years, astronauts have dressed up in Santa hats, decorate the ISS with a small Christmas tree and stockings, and enjoy a Christmas dinner.

NASA says that family members also pack ‘psychological support kits,’ or goodie bags sent from home. 

Kits may be full of videos, games and books but they can also contain chocolate bars and other treats that make it easier to be away from home over the holidays.  

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore and Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA offered their thoughts and best wishes to the world on Christmas in 2014

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore and Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA offered their thoughts and best wishes to the world on Christmas in 2014

The delivery was sent via SpaceX Dragon capsule, owned by Elon Musk, pictured, and was received by Commander Alexander Gerst three days later. Musk's astro-firm worked with NASA to ship the delivery, which also included shortbread and biscuits

The delivery was sent via SpaceX Dragon capsule, owned by Elon Musk, pictured, and was received by Commander Alexander Gerst three days later. Musk’s astro-firm worked with NASA to ship the delivery, which also included shortbread and biscuits

The space station has housed astronauts every Christmas since 2000; crew members are afforded time off to celebrate the holiday each year.  

Much of the menu is made up of vacuum-packed, dehydrated food, which is prepared by adding water and heat in space. 

They use a space food re-hydrator, which uses water left over as a by-product of the space station’s fuel cells. 

Astronauts can also enjoy condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard, as well as salt and pepper.

However, the salt and pepper are suspended in liquid to make sure the particles don’t float off into the air – and clog up any equipment.

But sadly for the cosmonauts, there’ be no booze on board: alcohol for consumption is strictly forbidden, unless it’s related specifically to an experiment.

WHY DOES SPACEX RE-USE ROCKETS AND OTHER PARTS?

SpaceX tries to re-use rockets, payload fairings, boosters and other parts to try to cut down on the cost of each rocket mission.

The total cost of one of its Falcon 9 launches is estimated to reach £44 million ($61m), while each of its larger Falcon Heavy flights costs £65 million ($90m).

The space company has previously re-used first-stage and second-stage rocket boosters, in addition to one of its previously flown Dragon capsules.

The Dragon spacecraft are used as the final stage of SpaceX missions to resupply the International Space Station.

In an incredible accomplishment, the Falcon Heavy's side boosters landed smoothly back down to Earth on two separate launchpads about 8 minutes in

'The Falcons have landed' the announcers said, as people cheered and whooped wildly in the background

In an incredible accomplishment, the Falcon Heavy’s reused side boosters landed smoothly back down to Earth on two separate launchpads about 8 minutes in.

SpaceX is currently testing a system to recover the fairings of its Falcon 9 rockets. 

The payload fairings are clam shell-like nose cone halves that protect the craft’s payload.

SpaceX recovered a payload fairing for the first time in 2017.

During its first Falcon Heavy launch in February 2018, the firm landed two of the firms side boosters simultaneously on separate launchpads.

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