Being 250 miles above Earth offers astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) not only breathtaking views, but also the chance to document phenomena rarely seen from the ground. Recently, astronaut Nichole Ayers, part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, captured one such elusive spectacle — a gigantic jet — during a thunderstorm over North America.
What Are Gigantic Jets?
NASA defines gigantic jets as a rare form of lightning that discharges between thunderstorms and the ionosphere far above them. Unlike regular cloud-to-cloud or cloud-to-ground lightning, these are part of a family of atmospheric mysteries called Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), which also include sprites, halos, and ELVES — faint red glows expanding across the night sky.
Gigantic jets remain poorly understood, which makes every recorded image a valuable piece of science.
The Rare Capture
Ayers spotted and photographed the phenomenon as the ISS passed over the U.S.–Mexico border on July 3. Using a Nikon Z9 with a 50mm lens (f/1.2, ¼ sec, ISO 6400), she documented the jet striking upward from the storm.
“In this photo, the storm appears to be hovering near the Texas-Mexico border,” Ayers explained. “You can see the glow of Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston to the northeast, and Torreón, Mexico, to the southwest.”
At first glance, Ayers thought she had captured a sprite — another mysterious form of lightning that dances above storms — before realizing it was a gigantic jet.
Why This Matters
These fleeting flashes are so rare that even seasoned scientists struggle to study them. NASA has even launched a citizen science project to collect sightings. Each confirmed photo adds to the growing puzzle of how these TLEs form and what role they play in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Veteran astronaut Don Pettit, known for his stunning ISS photography, praised Ayers’ achievement:
“To record a photo like this takes skill to set up the camera, but more than that, the knowledge of what lightning systems are likely to create sprites — and the willingness to take thousands of images where only one captures it. Kudos to Nicole for her efforts.”
Ayers humbly replied, “Trying to make you proud! Couldn’t get pictures like this without your willingness to teach and share knowledge.”
A Glimpse Into the Unknown
The image is more than just stunning — it’s science in action. Gigantic jets, sprites, and ELVES remain among the least understood atmospheric events. Ayers’ photograph will not only inspire awe but also contribute to research that could finally explain how and why these mysterious lightning discharges occur.
Her work highlights the importance of astronauts as not only explorers but also scientists — capturing moments that deepen our understanding of our planet’s atmosphere.
One breathtaking photograph from space just brought us a little closer to unlocking Earth’s electrical mysteries.
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