The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, is displaying a Santa hat that flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-103 mission in December 1999. Worn by astronaut John Grunsfeld during a brief onboard holiday celebration, the hat ties a festive moment to a mission that spent nearly eight days repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. Discovery’s Dec. 19 launch — after multiple scrubs — was the only one of NASA’s 135 shuttle missions to occur over the Christmas holiday. The hat is featured in the museum’s "13 Days of Christmas" program.
Holiday History: Cosmosphere Displays Santa Hat Flown on Space Shuttle Discovery
Cosmosphere in Hutchinson gets a Santa hat worn in space
The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, has added a festive and historically significant artifact to its collection: a Santa hat that actually flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.
Wearing Santa hats, astronauts John M. Grunsfeld and Steven L. Smith blend with the season for a brief celebration on the mid deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The interruption was very brief, as the two mission specialists shortly went about completing their suit-up process in order to participate in STS-103 space walk activity, performing needed work on the Hubble Space Telescope. (Courtesy: The Cosmosphere)
The small but meaningful item was carried on STS-103, the December 1999 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. After several launch scrubs, Discovery finally lifted off on Dec. 19 — the only one of NASA's 135 shuttle missions to occur over the Christmas holiday period. The mission spent nearly eight days in orbit conducting critical repairs to the Hubble Telescope.
A Santa hat worn in space (Courtesy: The Cosmosphere)
Astronaut John Grunsfeld wore the hat during a brief onboard holiday celebration, giving the object both sentimental and historical value. The Cosmosphere is displaying the hat as part of its "13 Days of Christmas" program, where it pairs space history with seasonal programming for visitors of all ages.
A Santa hat worn in space (Courtesy: The Cosmosphere)
Why It Matters
Beyond its charm as a holiday keepsake, the hat is a tangible link to the shuttle era and to a mission that helped restore Hubble’s scientific capabilities. For locals and tourists alike, the display offers a direct connection to a memorable moment in NASA history.
Space Shuttle Discovery (Courtesy: The Cosmosphere)
For more details about the exhibit and upcoming events, visit Cosmo.org.
