Astronauts share Thanksgiving message from space

Four astronauts aboard the International Space Station sent a Thanksgiving message on Thursday as they prepared to enjoy a holiday meal of their own while in orbit.

“We’ll appreciate the next Thanksgiving with our families that much more having missed this one,” NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik said in a video posted on social media.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to those that are serving our country, not at home for this Thanksgiving, and that they are able to make it special where they are, just like we’re going to,” he added. 

Bresnik was joined by NASA crewmates Joe Acaba and Mark Vande Hei, and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency. 

The group had a few traditional Thanksgiving favorites on hand for a meal later in the day with the full crew, including turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, candied yams and a cran-apple dessert.

What are you bringing to Thanksgiving this year? Treat your friends and family to astronaut-style cornbread with this recipe straight out of our Space Food Laboratory, no freeze drying required: https://t.co/UjrMqPayD8 pic.twitter.com/vHhy62Md0X

— NASA (@NASA) November 23, 2017

“The process of the day of Thanksgiving and preparing everything is something that just I look forward to the next time,” Bresnik said.

Bresnik and Nespoli will return to Earth next month, while Acaba and Vande Hei will remain in orbit through February.