It's that magical time of year again — Christmas, a holiday celebrated by over 2 billion people worldwide. Whether it’s important to you personally or to someone close to you, you might be surprised to learn that Christmas also has some fascinating connections to space exploration.
From the earliest days of human space travel, astronauts have found ways to celebrate the holidays while orbiting Earth. Beginning with the Gemini 6 mission in the late 1960s and continuing to the present, the spirit of Christmas has traveled beyond our planet. From decorating with Christmas trees to baking space cookies and even pulling off holiday-themed pranks, the ties between space and Christmas are both surprising and heartwarming.
