Sunita Williams’ Christmas video sparks debate online; NASA responds

News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 3rd December 2024

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are temporarily stranded on the International orbit Station (ISS), spent Christmas in orbit wearing Santa hats, spawning various conspiracy theories on social media. The footage, broadcast by the US space agency, shows Williams wearing a red t-shirt and three of her coworkers sporting Santa hats.

Social media users were eager to speculate, asking if the astronauts were aware they would be staying on the ISS for an extended period of time.

“You brought Christmas decorations into space months ago?” asked a user. Another said, “Seriously? How did they know to have all these Christmas decorations with them when they were only going in an 8 day mission?”

One user asked, “Who delivered the Christmas hats and decorations?? So…u thought far enough in advance to pack them when extra space in the capsule is at a very high premium??”

Williams and her partner astronaut have been aboard the ISS since June. What was planned to be an eight-day ISS journey turned into months owing to a Starliner spacecraft problem. The astronauts were supposed to come home in February of next year, but even that has been postponed. They will return in March. However, NASA has put a stop to the conspiracy speculations.

The US space agency informed the New York Post that the Santa hats. In November, a three-ton SpaceX cargo included a Christmas tree, decorations, and presents for the ISS crew. The box also contained Christmas feasts such as ham, turkey, potatoes, veggies, pies, and cookies. In addition, various mission-specific and scientific items were included.

NASA shared a video featuring Williams and others talking about their Christmas plans and extending their greetings.

“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 International Space Station. There are seven of us up here and so we’re going to get to enjoy company together,” Williams said.

She also spoke about the things she liked about the occasion, saying, “One of the best things that I like about Christmas is the preparation and just getting ready, the anticipation, everybody getting together and preparing stuff and just getting ready for the holiday.”