Crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) embrace the Halloween spirit by dressing up in creative costumes, using materials available on the orbiting laboratory. Although there are no trick-or-treaters, the astronauts find ways to celebrate the holiday, showcasing their imaginative outfits over the years.
Costume Creativity in Space
Past Halloween celebrations have featured a range of costumes, from spooky to whimsical. For instance, during Expedition 37, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano fulfilled his dream of flying like Superman. In 2025, a trio of Expedition 73 astronauts also got into the Halloween mood with their costumes.
In 2023, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA, Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA, Loral O’Hara from NASA, and Andreas Mogensen of ESA celebrated the holiday together, showcasing their unique outfits. The previous year, Expedition 68 members included Koichi Wakata from JAXA and NASA astronauts Francisco “Frank” Rubio, Nicole Mann, and Josh Cassada, who dressed as popular video game and cartoon characters, using stowage containers as part of their costumes.
Team Spirit and Traditions
Expedition 66 crew members, including NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and ESA’s Thomas Pesquet, celebrated by exchanging Halloween cards. In 2019, Expedition 61 astronauts such as Christina Koch and Luca Parmitano also joined in the festivities, demonstrating their holiday spirit aboard the ISS.
Previous years have seen even more entertaining costumes, such as Flight Engineer Sergei Prokopyev of Roscosmos dressed as Elvis Presley and Commander Alexander Gerst of ESA as Darth Vader during Expedition 57. Notably, Expedition 53 crew members displayed their creativity in 2017, while NASA astronaut Nicole Stott showcased her costume during Expedition 21.
Scientific Endeavors Amid Celebrations
Despite the festive atmosphere, the ISS remains a crucial scientific platform. It continues to support research and experiments that are essential for humanity’s exploration of space. The astronauts’ celebrations highlight the unique blend of work and play in a microgravity environment.
As the ISS marks over 25 years of continuous human presence in space, it provides a backdrop for both scientific discovery and personal expression through holiday celebrations.
Source: NASA
