Expedition 74 Crew Marks Christmas Aboard ISS Amid Final Operational Phase

The crew of Expedition 74 observed the Christmas holiday on December 25, 2025, while operating the International Space Station (ISS) at an altitude consistently above 420 kilometers. This observance occurs as the orbiting laboratory enters its final planned operational half-decade, with an intentional deorbit anticipated around 2030. The ISS, which has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000, represents a significant milestone in international space collaboration, having initiated module launches in 1998.

Four of the seven Expedition 74 members marked the holiday: NASA Commander Mike Fincke, alongside NASA colleagues Zena Cardman and Christopher Williams, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui. Astronaut Williams confirmed the crew established a festive setting by placing a small Christmas tree and hanging stockings near the airlock of the Kibo module, the Japanese Experiment Module. This tradition continues a practice originating with the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, marking over 25 years of continuous holiday celebrations aboard the station.

Commander Fincke addressed the difficulty of separation from family, noting the crew found comfort and camaraderie within their "space family" and the global ground support teams. JAXA astronaut Yui supported this, emphasizing the moral support from Mission Control centers and promising traditional Japanese holiday cuisine for the crew. Astronaut Cardman drew parallels between the orbital observance and past celebrations during isolated expeditions in Antarctica and at sea, highlighting a shared resilience built in challenging environments.

The Expedition 74 crew is currently engaged in advanced scientific research, including studies on plant cell division, the effects of microgravity on bacteria-killing viruses, and the generation of on-demand nutrients. The full complement of seven members includes three Roscosmos cosmonauts: Oleg Platonov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Sergey Mikayev. This specific configuration was established after the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft arrived on November 27, 2025, during the Expedition 73/74 handover period. The preceding Expedition 73, commanded by JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, concluded with the undocking of Soyuz MS-27 on December 9, 2025, with Fincke formally assuming command on December 7, succeeding Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov.

As the ISS approaches its planned conclusion, NASA and its international partners are preparing for a transition to commercial space stations, having committed over $400 million to stimulate the development of these next-generation platforms. SpaceX holds a contract, valued up to $843 million, to develop the United States Deorbit Vehicle (USDV). This vehicle will be essential for guiding the structure toward a controlled splashdown in a remote Pacific Ocean area known as Point Nemo. This process involves gradual orbit lowering assisted by atmospheric drag, culminating in a final thrust from the USDV to ensure a safe descent, mitigating the risk of debris impact from an uncontrolled reentry of the over 400-ton station.