Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have sparked wild conspiracy theories after attempting to spread some festive cheer from the International Space Station (ISS).
The two astronauts have been stranded aboard the ISS since June.
Their eight-day mission - launched aboard a Boeing Starliner capsule on June 5 - was extended indefinitely due to technical problems with their spacecraft, leaving them unexpectedly celebrating Christmas in orbit.
Now, the two astronauts have once again got social media users talking after NASA shared a holiday-themed photograph of them wearing Santa hats alongside a tiny Christmas tree.
On December 16, NASA’s Johnson Space Center posted the now-viral photo to Instagram. In the image, Williams is seen wearing a red Santa hat alongside fellow astronaut Don Pettit, who was speaking on a ham radio.
The caption read: “Another day, another sleigh,” and described the scene:
“@nasaastronauts Don Pettit and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander, pose for a fun holiday season portrait while speaking on a ham radio inside the International Space Station’s Columbus laboratory module.”
The post quickly generated buzz, with social media users confused by the fact the ISS had a number of Christmassy items onboard.
One Instagram user asked: “8-day mission that’s turned into months long and they’ve somehow got Christmas hats?”
Another commented: "So for a mission in June that you said takes 8 days now six months later and you post this? So we are expected to believe you packed Christmas attire in June lol ok then."
Another skeptic asked: "If your original trip was only supposed to be 8 days back in JUNE, how did you get Christmas hats??"
Some online commenters speculated wildly, suggesting the festive props were evidence of a conspiracy. “It’s all one big show,” wrote one user. Another claimed the astronauts were filming from a studio on Earth.
"Christmas in the studio," one person commented, with another typing: "Welcome to Hollywood."
One X user replied: "The Hollywood production is getting funnier by the day...don't even know where to start."
However, there was - of course - a very reasonable explanation to the decorations.
NASA confirmed to The New York Post that the Santa hats, along with other decorations, presents, and holiday meals, were delivered as part of a SpaceX resupply mission in late November. These routine deliveries replenish the ISS several times a year, and this one included holiday-themed items to brighten the crew’s Christmas.
The shipment featured ham, turkey, potatoes, vegetables, pies, and cookies, alongside scientific equipment and mission supplies. The hats and Christmas tree were tucked in as extra festive touches.
In a holiday video, Williams wished everyone on Earth a joyous season, saying: “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.”
She added, “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.”
This isn’t Williams’ first Christmas in space. She also celebrated the holiday aboard the ISS during a mission in 2006.
While the holiday spirit is alive on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore were expected to be back on Earth with their families by now. Their journey was disrupted when the Boeing Starliner capsule encountered numerous issues, including leaks that rendered its thrusters inoperable.
NASA decided to return the spacecraft unmanned in September, leaving the pair stranded. Their ride home now lies with a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule docked to the ISS. Initially scheduled for an early February return, that departure has been postponed to late March.
For now, the astronauts are making the most of their extended mission, finding joy and camaraderie as they celebrate the holidays far above Earth's surface.
