Astronauts message: Happy New Year to the people of Earth!
Even the astronauts rang in the new year in a unique way.
The following written content by Tariq Malik
The people of Earth rang in the year 2021 with fireworks and social distancing amid the global coronavirus pandemic last night. Even astronauts in space found a way to celebrate in their own unique way: a ball drop in zero gravity.
In a video from the International Space Station on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), five of the six astronauts living aboard the orbiting lab revealed what ringing in 2021 would look in in space. All they needed was a globe of the Earth.
“We wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a very happy New Year,” NASA astronaut Kate Rubins said in the video, which NASA released on YouTube.
“One of the most famous New Year’s Eve traditions is watching the ball drop in Times Square in New York City,” NASA astronaut Victor Glover added, referring to the iconic celebration in which thousands of revelers pack New York City’s Times Square to watch a glittering ball drop at midnight to mark the new year.
This year, as New York City works to limit the spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, officials blocked off Times Square to most revelers.
“As many of us celebrate the new year from home, we brought this famous tradition to space to share with you,” NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins said in the video.
“Since we are in zero gravity, we have a special twist,” added astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
That twist? In zero gravity, the ball can drop up.
“3, 2, 1, happy New Year!” the astronauts cheered in the video, which they did prerecord ahead of the actual new year.
“We hope this inspires you to celebrate in your own way,” NASA astronaut Shannon Walker added just ahead of that final count. Read more from Space.
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