Holiday in Orbit: New Crew Joins ISS in Record Thanksgiving Flight

Updated: November 28, 2025 23:44

Image Source: Space.com

A NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts reached the ISS in a record three-hour Thanksgiving flight, joining Expedition 73 for a festive orbital celebration and beginning a new phase of scientific research and international cooperation in space.

A fresh wave of excitement swept through the International Space Station as a trio of astronauts and cosmonauts completed a record-breaking three-hour journey from Earth to join the orbiting outpost on Thanksgiving Day. The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, carrying NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and docked with the ISS just before 10:10 a.m. EST, expanding the station’s crew to ten members for the holiday.

Historic Thanksgiving Arrival:

The swift flight marked the first-ever Thanksgiving launch to the ISS, making the journey a historic milestone for international space cooperation. After a flawless liftoff at 4:27 a.m. EST, the crew orbited Earth twice before docking with the Rassvet module. The new arrivals were greeted with a warm welcome and a safety briefing, joining Expedition 73 for a festive orbital Thanksgiving meal.

Crew Highlights and Mission Goals:

The Soyuz MS-28 crew’s arrival signals the start of Expedition 74, which will see the astronauts conducting hundreds of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and possible spacewalks during their eight-month stay.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams, making his first flight to space, will focus on advancing human space exploration research, including installing a new modular workout system, improving cryogenic fuel efficiency, and growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity.
The station’s menu for Thanksgiving included traditional favorites like turkey, cranberry sauce, clams, oysters, and lobster, aiming to bring a taste of home to the crew 250 miles above Earth.

A Shared Celebration in Space:

With the new crew joining, the ISS became a bustling hub of shared celebration and international camaraderie. The arrival was timed perfectly to coincide with the holiday, with astronauts and cosmonauts from the US, Russia, and Japan gathering for a feast and exchanging greetings with families and mission control. This unique Thanksgiving marks another chapter in the long tradition of orbital holiday celebrations, reinforcing the spirit of global collaboration in space exploration.

Source: NASA, Space.com, CBS News, Forbes, Economic Times

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