Christmas 2023 weekend – one for the books.
Friday, the Expedition 70 crew and ground team alike got our collective wish for two cargo ships to depart space station before the holidays. NG-19 was released midday carrying all our trash from the past six months, and will orbit Earth for about two weeks before burning up on reentry. Around the same time, SpX-20 splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico loaded with science and station hardware, after undocking late Thursday night. Watching free flying vehicles in space is one of my favorite things to see up here - a combination of precision, grace, and beauty against one of the most dramatic and beautiful backdrops possible. A huge congratulations to everyone who worked these missions!
Saturday kicked off three off-duty days, bringing perhaps the best gift any astronaut onboard station could receive – that of time, a rare and precious commodity when most of our days are so full of work. On Christmas Eve, @AstroJaws did an awesome job decorating NOD2 and hanging stockings for each of us, and we had a nice evening hanging out together and watching part of the traditional American classic “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.” Christmas Day was peaceful – a quiet morning of breakfast and some music by the tree to start, Christmas cookie decorating and a big midday feast later. Getting to share the holiday with my crewmates was both special and fun, as was chatting with the team in Mission Control Center, who gave up their own holiday weekends to support us.
Best of all, I got a new baby nephew. Watching both my siblings become parents this year has been one of my greatest joys of 2023, and I can’t wait to help introduce my niece and nephew to this incredible planet. 💙
Wishing everyone on Earth a peaceful last week of 2023!