Daily Space Facts with a Pinch of Christmas (TWS Christmas Special)
Hello, space fans! The holiday season is finally here, and the Christmas spirit is already brewing among everyone! How about we make this season more interesting with some daily space facts that contain a pinch of Christmas related to it? A Christmas special that gives you daily space facts? Maybe you want to make your family and friends feel interested in space exploration by using the spirit of the holidays.
That is exactly what The Weekly Spaceman has in store for you today! Below is an archive for each space fact we have gathered for you this 2024! We plan to run this at least until the end of the year (depending on our schedules) so wait for more space facts to come soon! I hope you enjoy this one from us! We will upload each space fact we make on our pages with a link to this blog so you can run through all these facts anytime you want!
On behalf of The Weekly Spaceman team, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and Happy Holidays to everyone! (this special is mostly run by KYNNMASTER 123, just in case I might have some fact mistakes, I am happily accepting those kind corrections 😁) 🚀🎄✨
Space Fact #10: December 25, 2024 (Christmas Day)
NORAD “tracks Santa” in Land, Air, & Space: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN! 🎄
For Christmas to be merrier and to help Santa deliver his gifts, whether it is on Earth or the International Space Station (ISS), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks Santa and his reindeers throughout his journey.
While this is a PLAYFUL AND FICTIONAL tradition, NORAD uses its real technology to bring the magic of Santa to families worldwide.
To help him, they use the resources they have on hand such as land, air, and space-based radars namely satellites, military planes, and lots more! One example of the satellites that are utilized for this journey is the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite, which can detect heat signature signals through its infrared system.
In Christmas tradition, we know that one of Santa's reindeers, Rudolph, has a very shiny nose. That releases heat signature signals, which can be tracked by these satellites so that fighter jets can fetch him up in the air and clear the airspace around him to help send our gifts at a faster pace, a beautiful collaboration of airspace protectors and Santa himself.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
To summarize, this tradition started when a child accidentally called Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), which was the past NORAD, because of an advertisement printing the wrong phone number that says Santa Claus would answer the call.
An officer at CONAD answered the call and acted seriously until the officer realized that the child was not joking at all as he learned about the advertisement. This call was the start of this yearly tradition.
Space Fact #9: December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve)
Apollo 8 - Christmas Eve Lunar Broadcast: A ONE-OF-A-KIND CHRISTMAS EVE. 🎄🌕
On December 24, 1968, 56 years ago, on Christmas Eve, approximately 1 billion people were glued to their TV screens as the three astronauts of Apollo 8 sent an inspiring message while orbiting the Moon.
Before their broadcast, the crew captured the iconic Earthrise photo, an important symbol of their message.
During this historic broadcast, the crew—Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders— gave their messages and took turns reading the first 10 verses of Genesis, the opening chapter of the Bible.
Their reading highlighted the beauty and fragility of Earth, resonating with people of all beliefs and cultures.
They ended the broadcast with a heartfelt message:
“And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth.”
Space Fact #8: December 23, 2024
The Winter and Summer Solstices - SHORTER DAYS, LONGER NIGHTS 🎄❄ (and vice versa)
On December 21, 2024, the Winter Solstice officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere, or the top portion of our planet above the Equator. During this season, days are shorter, and nights are longer—a fitting and familiar backdrop for cozy Christmas celebrations.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the reverse occurs. Days become longer and nights become shorter, a phenomenon known as the Summer Solstice. It is a unique Christmas feeling for those living on that side of the planet, calling it a summer season instead of winter.
This difference happens due to the Earth's axis, tilted at 23.5 degrees. Thus, the hemisphere tilting towards the Sun receives more sunlight while the opposite hemisphere gets less.
Space Fact #7: December 22, 2024
THIS DAY IN SPACE - APOLLO 8 LAUNCH: A CHRISTMAS LAUNCH TO THE MOON
On December 21, 1968, at 7:51 AM Eastern Time, a Saturn V rocket launched carrying three NASA astronauts for the Apollo 8 mission, which embarked on a journey that would take them around the Moon and back.
The mission's schedule meant the astronauts celebrated Christmas while orbiting the Moon.
Various firsts were attained here, such as the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth's gravitational sphere of influence, the first human spaceflight to the Moon, the first Christmas in lunar orbit, and much more!
They also read the first 10 verses from the book of Genesis in the Bible during this mission!
MORE about this historic mission will be featured in an UPCOMING SPACE FACT!
Space Fact #6: December 21, 2024
LAUNCH OF THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE (JWST): A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ASTRONOMERS
On Christmas morning, December 25, 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket, offering a new perspective into the earliest stages of star formation.
It was the best Christmas gift astronomers could receive, giving them insights and helping them understand the earliest formation of stars in our universe.
After a series of deployments lasting for months, it now provides us with great views of the early universe. Its stunning observations continue to expand our understanding of the cosmos and the beauty of its creation, making every day feel like Christmas for astronomers.
Space Fact #5: December 20, 2024
CHRISTMAS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS): A 24-YEAR TRADITION SINCE THAT DAY.
Since October 31, 2000, the last time all humanity was on Earth, astronauts have been constantly living on the ISS. Therefore, it has also been a 24-year tradition for those living on the ISS to celebrate Christmas at the station, once the timing hits their rotation schedule.
It all started on Expedition 1, which arrived on the ISS on November 2, 2000, celebrating their first Christmas on board the station later that year.
Until now, astronauts celebrate Christmas in the station, decorating it with lights and stockings, and even donning Santa hats while floating in zero gravity, making their experience unique from those celebrating here on Earth.
Space Fact #4: December 19, 2024
WHERE ROCKETS AND HOLIDAY CHEER UNITE TO INSPIRE THE WORLD.
Annually, SpaceX blends the Christmas spirit with its fast-paced operations through parades and flight-ready booster roll-outs.
Shown in these photos are some of the examples of their celebrations such as designing Raptor Engine SN17 in the year 2019, the roll-out of Booster 10 (Flight 3 Superheavy) with Christmas decorations surrounding its Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT), the annual "A Christmas Drone Show" over South Padre Island, and the SpaceX 2024 Christmas Parade, which just happened recently on December 18, 2024.
What an inspiring “SpaceX way” of celebrating things!
Space Fact #3: December 18, 2024
NGC 2264 OF MILKY WAY: A COSMIC TREE GLOWING IN THE COSMOS.
On December 19, 2023, NASA released a new image of NGC 2264 in the Milky Way Galaxy, also known as the “Christmas Tree Cluster.”
The image captured by the collaboration of Chandra X-ray Observatory, National Science Foundation’s WIYN 0.9-meter telescope, and Two Micron All Sky Survey shows a cluster of stars shaped like a Christmas tree.
It combines the X-ray, Optical, and Infrared observations made by each observatory to highlight the various light emissions from the cluster, captured across different wavelengths. This cluster is approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth, a cosmic show from the far-away cosmos.
Space Fact #2: December 17, 2024
FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE IN SPACE: THE POWER OF RESOURCEFULNESS:
In December 1973, during the Skylab 4 mission, astronauts Gerald P. Carr, William R. Pogue, and Edward G. Gibson celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s in space at the Skylab Space Station during their 84-day mission, the longest mission that time.
One day, Carr and Pogue decided to make the first Christmas tree in space with empty food containers, colored decals, and a cardboard cut in a festive design, including the shape of a comet.
This shows the power of resourcefulness that astronauts carry, whether it is in a critical event inside their spacecraft or just a simple way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.
Space Fact #1: December 16, 2024
A CHRISTMAS & SPACE HISTORY COLLAB.
On December 15, 1965, the Gemini 6 mission, commanded by astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra successfully rendezvoused with another spacecraft for the first time. On December 16, still on their mission, they played the first song in space.
Coincidentally, it was the holiday season, so they decided to broadcast the first Christmas song in space, Jingle Bells. They played it with a harmonica and bells, the instruments they used shown in the photos above. This was also part of a Christmas-themed prank by the astronauts.
