NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Reveals Thanksgiving Feast Plans in Space: Smoked Turkey, Mashed Potatoes & More
As Thanksgiving approaches, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to celebrate the holiday aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Williams and her crew members will experience a different version of the holiday, sharing a special Thanksgiving meal in space, despite being far from family and Earthly traditions.
According to a preview shared by Williams, the crew's Thanksgiving menu includes smoked turkey, cranberry sauce, apple cobbler, green beans, mushrooms, and mashed potatoes—comfort foods adapted for the zero-gravity environment of space. These familiar dishes are part of the astronauts' effort to stay connected to Earth's holiday spirit while conducting vital work in orbit.
Williams, who once described space as her "happy place," assured the public that the crew is in good health and fit during their extended mission. They stay in top physical condition through regular exercise and proper nutrition, ensuring that their performance remains at the highest level. The crew's well-being is closely monitored by mission control, and contingency plans are in place to bring them back to Earth if needed.
While Thanksgiving would make the crew closer, spiritually, their mission at a broader level has much meaning. Their work on ISS is supporting NASA's work towards the Artemis program under which astronauts will return to the Moon and eventually explore Mars. The astronauts themselves lay the groundwork for possible space exploration by conducting tests on new technologies and executing experiments.
This Thanksgiving gathering is not the first time astronauts spent the holiday in space. Ten years ago, in 2008, astronauts Barry Wilmore and Donald Pettit had Thanksgiving aboard the ISS. The astronauts dined on smoked turkey, candied yams, and green beans. Williams, along with her crew, are sustaining this tradition as a hallmark of NASA's commitment to holiday customs for more than ten years.
Although the crew has faced technical challenges with their Starliner capsule, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, Williams reassured the public that they remain safe. NASA’s support system, including mission control, ensures the crew’s resilience and readiness to continue their mission. The Thanksgiving meal aboard the ISS is a symbol of their unwavering commitment to space exploration.
As they celebrate the holiday in space, Williams and her fellow astronauts continue pushing the frontiers of science in support of NASA achieving its long-term goals of space missions. Their commitment clearly emphasizes the importance of upholding human relations, however far one travels in the universe.
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