Sunita Williams Christmas Wish Video From International Space Centre Sparks Controversy; NASA Responds

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), celebrated Christmas in space wearing Santa hats, igniting various conspiracy theories on social media. The clip, shared by the US space agency, featured Williams in a red t-shirt, as three of her teammates donned Santa hats.

Social media users swiftly developed theories, wondering whether the astronauts were aware of their extended stay at the ISS.

Williams and her fellow astronaut have been aboard the ISS since June. What was intended to be an eight-day ISS mission extended into months because of a malfunction in the Starliner spacecraft. The astronauts were scheduled to come back home in February next year, but that has also been postponed. They are now set to come back in March.

NASA Responds To Conspiracy Theories

Nevertheless, NASA has dismissed the conspiracy theories. The US space agency informed the New York Post about the Santa hats. A Christmas tree, along with other decorations and gifts, was delivered to the ISS crew as part of a three-ton shipment from SpaceX in November. The package included Christmas dishes such as ham, turkey, potatoes, veggies, pies, and cookies. In addition to this, certain mission-specific and scientific items were included in the delivery as well. The International Space Station receives supplies multiple times annually, it stated.

Christmas Wish Video

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Don Pettit, Nick Hague, and Barry Wilmore have conveyed a festive message and sent their best wishes to everyone on Earth. Since June, Williams and Wilmore have been stuck in space. The two test pilots intended to be gone for only about a week when they launched on June 5 for Boeing's inaugural astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Here’s a unique message from space by Williams.