Happy Thanksgiving, aboard the ISS

"Happy Thanksgiving to the entire crew," Mission Control radioed up, after playing the Electric Light Orchestra's "Hold on Tight" as a wake-up song.

It was going to be an early Thanksgiving meal for the nine U.S. astronauts and single Russian cosmonaut, with the last candied yam likely eaten before the Detroit Lions score their first touchdown.

The shuttle astronauts have to do some last-minute packing before they say goodbye to the station crew and close the hatch between Endeavour and the space station Thursday afternoon.

The space shuttle is set to undock from the space station early Friday and return to Florida on Sunday, completing a 16-day mission.

"It's going to be sad tomorrow to see our ... friends leave," station commander Mike Fincke said Wednesday night. "But it will be a happy Thanksgiving."

It is somewhat unusual for shuttle and station crews to eat a meal together, given their different schedules and various chores. The crew members will take several precautions for the meal - keeping fire extinguishers and gas masks in the dining area, for instance.

"So, if anything happens when they're all sitting in one place, you don't have to run in all the wrong directions to grab all the equipment you need," said flight director Holly Ridings.