NASA delivers crew aboard ISS’ message on Christmas

NASA delivered a message from aboard International Space Station about the experience of the crew members there. The message was regarding what Christmas meant to them when they are in Space, away from Earth.

Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough said that the holiday was about family and giving.

"We always travel typically to meet up with our family because we're dispersed all over the country. We go home to Georgia quite a bit or Florida or sometimes Colorado to meet up with all of our immediate and distant family members.

"Always a great time just to get together and share with each other. This season is typically thought of is all about getting things around Christmas but we in our family we try to think of it as the giving aspect giving of our many talents and of our resources and of our time to others less fortunate. It's also a season that I love," Kimbrough said.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is having her third mission to the ISS said that being able to have a look of the planet Earth has provided her with a different perspective on Christmas.

"Obviously friends and family are important to all of us," Whitson said. "There is another very important aspect of being on ISIS and that's seeing the planet as a whole.

"And it actually reinforces I think that the fact that we should live as one people and strive for peace."

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency talked about getting together with his family that included 25 cousins

"This year I won't be able to be there of course but I think I'll talk to them. I'll try to give them a call and catchup as much as I can and make the most of this opportunity to look at the earth reflect about what Christmas means to us as individuals, to the world in general.

"And and I think we'll we'll have we'll have a good time on board ISS and share a Christmas meal together," Pesquet said.

The crew members also talked about what their meal is going to be aboard International Space Station.

Pesquet told that he had a special meal prepared by French chefs that included chicken supreme with morel, ox tongue and gingerbread. He told that the ingredients used to prepare the meal, were the same as cooked by his grandmother and will give him a trip down the memory lane.

Whitson and Kimbrough mentioned other packed meals and drinks they will enjoy include hot cocoa and turkey with cornbread stuffing.