Astronaut Sunita Williams, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is set to witness an extraordinary New Year’s Eve, experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets within 24 hours. The ISS orbits Earth at high speed, offering its crew this rare celestial spectacle.
A post from the ISS handle on X stated, “As 2024 comes to a close today, the Exp 72 crew will see 16 sunrises and sunsets while soaring into the New Year. Seen here are several sunsets pictured over the years from the orbital outpost.”
Extended Stay and Holiday Celebrations
Ms. Williams and her fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, who arrived at the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, initially planned to return after nine days. However, multiple mission postponements extended their stay, leading them to celebrate Christmas and New Year in space.
In a video shared by NASA, Ms. Williams described her joy during the festive season:
“Welcome to the International Space Station as we get ready for the Christmas holidays. It’s a great time up here; we get to spend it with all of our ‘family’ on the ISS. There are seven of us, and we’ll enjoy the company together.”
The video also showcased astronauts wearing Santa caps, part of holiday supplies delivered via SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
Return Mission Postponed
Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore are now scheduled to return in March 2025 after NASA postponed the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, initially set for February. The Crew-9 team, who arrived in September with two empty seats for the returning astronauts, will remain until the replacement crew arrives.
A Remarkable Experience
The New Year’s Eve aboard the ISS marks a unique milestone for Sunita Williams and her crew, blending celestial phenomena with human camaraderie. While their extended stay was unexpected, the team has embraced their time in space with resilience and festive spirit.
