As the Earth welcomes New Year 2025, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and her Expedition 72 crew members are experiencing a truly one-of-a-kind celebration aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In a memorable cosmic event, the crew will witness 16 sunrises and sunsets within 24 hours as they orbit Earth, making their New Year celebration quite literally out of this world.
The ISS confirmed this phenomenon through their social media platform X (aka Twitter), sharing stunning images of orbital sunsets captured over the years. This rare celebration comes during Williams’ extended stay in space, following technical delays that altered the original eight-day Boeing Starliner spacecraft mission into a months-long expedition.
The celebration follows a festive Christmas aboard the ISS, where Williams and her crew members were seen decorating cookies while dressed in holiday attire. “One of the best things I like about Christmas is the preparation, the anticipation, everybody getting together and getting ready for the holiday,” Williams shared in a NASA-released video, highlighting the crew’s ability to maintain Earth traditions even in space.
Image Credits: Twitter/@NASA_Marshall
Expedition 72 crew Share Snippets Of #NewYearInSpace
The ISS stated in a post, “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.”
Image Credits: Twitter/@Space_Station
Space enthusiasts worldwide have expressed their excitement about this unique New Year 2025 celebration. One space fan noted, “The views from space are truly unique and awe-inspiring. Here’s to another year of exploration, discovery and moments that make us appreciate the beauty of our planet.”
Another highlighted the cosmic significance, wrote, “16 sunrises and sunsets in a single day—talk about starting the New Year in style! The Exp 72 crew is not just flying into 2025; they’re orbiting it with cosmic vibes. Here’s to another stellar year among the stars!” ending with the #NewYearInSpace.
Who is Sunita L. Williams?
Williams, a veteran astronaut selected by NASA in 1998, is continuing to build on her glowing 321-day space career. Her recent mission began on June 5, 2024, with her colleague NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore launching aboard Boeing’s Starliner spaceship. Following NASA’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, their stay has been extended, and are now expected to return home in February 2025, according to nasa.gov.
Williams has received several awards, including two Defense Superior Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, two Navy Commendation Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal, among others. Her present work on Expedition 71/72 strengthens her standing as one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts.
As we enter 2025, Williams and her crew continue their work aboard the ISS, contributing to humanity’s understanding of life far from Earth. Their unique New Year celebration serves as a reminder of human achievement in space exploration and the extraordinary perspectives it provides of our home planet.
Their extended expedition not only grows our understanding of space, but it also offers an interesting perspective on how special occasions can be celebrated in the most unusual circumstances.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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