New Year on the International Space Station

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are preparing to welcome the New Year in a way only possible hundreds of miles above Earth. As the station orbits the planet every 90 minutes, the crew will experience multiple sunrises and sunsets, giving them as many as 16 chances to mark midnight as they usher in 2026.

Even on New Year’s Eve, life aboard the station remains busy. Astronauts continue critical science experiments and station maintenance, while also taking time to enjoy special meals, connect with family and friends through video calls, and share holiday greetings with people back on Earth.

Celebrating milestones in orbit has become a tradition on the ISS. Previous crews have marked holidays with creative moments, from floating “ball drop” celebrations in microgravity to festive messages sent from space. This New Year is no exception, as the current Expedition 74 crew continues international cooperation and scientific research while taking in the ever-changing view of Earth below. Migi Fabara reports.