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Many foods are associated with a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. But what do you suppose would be on the menu for Thanksgiving in space? Would you have to squeeze turkey paste out of a tube and get gelatin-covered dessert cubes? No. Food has improved since the early days of space flight.

Thanksgiving in Space

The Americans on board the International Space Station in November 2014 were Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Flight Engineer Terry Virts. They organized the holiday feast to celebrate with their crewmates, Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov, Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of Russia’s Roscosmos and Italian Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA). On the menu: smoked turkey, corn-bread dressing, green beans, and candied yams, which were irradiated, thermostabilized, or freeze-dried.

It wasn't exactly home cooking, but I think it was enjoyed in the spirit of comradeship and giving thanks.

On November 23, 2015 Expedition 45 Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA sent Thanksgiving wishes to all on Earth from the International Space. The pair also shared their plans for the holiday – including an early sampling of their Thanksgiving Day meal. Kelly was heading into the ninth month of his year-long mission aboard the complex, while Lindgren was wrapping up his flight and preparing for a landing in Kazakhstan in a Soyuz spacecraft Dec. 11.

Posted a few hours ago Thanksgiving greetings from the International Space Station. Astronauts Alex Gerst of ESA and Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA wish you a happy Thanksgiving! On station, the crew will share a holiday meal of turkey, stuffing, candied yams and spicy pound cake, and call home to speak with loved ones on Earth.