Astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is experiencing a unique New Year’s celebration, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets as the ISS orbits Earth. A post shared by the official ISS handle on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted this celestial phenomenon:

"As 2024 comes to a close, the Expedition 72 crew will see 16 sunrises and sunsets while soaring into the New Year. Seen here are several sunsets pictured over the years from the orbital outpost."

Williams, who launched to the ISS in June aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft alongside fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, had initially planned a short 9-day mission. However, unforeseen delays have extended their stay, meaning she also celebrated Christmas in orbit.

In a video released by NASA, Williams shared her excitement about spending the holidays in space. Sporting Santa hats from holiday supplies delivered via SpaceX's Dragon capsule, Williams and her colleagues embraced the festive spirit.

"Welcome to the International Space Station as we prepare for the Christmas holidays," Williams said. "It's a great time up here. We get to spend it with all our 'family' on the ISS. There are seven of us here, and we’re going to enjoy each other’s company."

The duo’s return, initially scheduled for February 2025, has now been pushed to March due to delays in SpaceX's Crew-10 mission, which will replace them on the ISS. Crew-9, which includes Williams and Wilmore, arrived at the space station in September 2024, with plans for all four astronauts to return together after the Crew-10 handover.

Despite the extended mission, Williams remains upbeat, calling it a "great time to be up here."