It is highly unlikely that the Plymouth colonists who started the Thanksgiving tradition ever thought that people would one day eat turkey in space. And yet, that is precisely what happened last night, somewhere in the Earth’s orbit. The astronauts from the shuttle Endeavour joined those from the international space station in an almost traditional Thanksgiving meal – the “almost” being some technical concessions to the rigors of the astronaut life.

For instance, even if the menu included turkey, yams and cornbread dressing, these were not of the fresh, steaming variety, but irradiated or freeze-dried. That’s because the international space station is one enclosed space where bacteria are allowed absolutely no fun at all, and all sorts of dramatic treatments are applied to foods in order to kill germs.

But the taste of the food wasn’t at all what mattered to the ten astronauts. This Thanksgiving party celebrates a happy end to a successful remodeling of the station, making it a suitable home for three to six people staying there full time – which will happen in May. To this purpose, the Endeavour crew installed all sorts of new amenities: two bedrooms, exercise equipment, another kitchen, a toilet and the contraption that turns more or less infamous liquids (condensation from the station’s mini-atmosphere, sweat, urine) into water.

No wonder that the commanders of both groups seem satisfied with the results of this 12-day visit. According to the Associated Press, Mike Fincke, the leader of the space station crew, thanked the astronauts from Endeavour for “the extreme home makeover,” adding: “You totally fixed us up on the inside and the outside. I think everyone is ecstatic.” Chris Ferguson, the commander of the shuttle crew, seemed equally happy about the way things went. “I'd like to think we achieved our goals,” he said.

Today, the Endeavour will leave the station, concluding yet another small chapter in humanity’s saga to slowly turn space into a friendly environment where one could go out for an irradiated meal at one’s leisure.