AI Insight
This NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day features a time-lapse video of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch carrying a Dragon spacecraft on October 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 30-second time-lapse captures the rocket's ascent toward the International Space Station as part of NASA's 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission, showing the ISS passing overhead, stage separation creating a distinctive jellyfish-shaped exhaust plume illuminated by sunrise, and the first stage successfully returning to land at Landing Zone 40. The video demonstrates the choreography of modern spaceflight operations including boost back, re-entry, and landing burns.
Why it matters
This mission represents the ongoing collaboration between NASA and commercial space companies to maintain continuous resupply operations to the International Space Station, essential for sustaining long-term human presence in low Earth orbit. The successful first-stage recovery demonstrates the operational maturity of reusable rocket technology, which significantly reduces the cost of space access.
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APOD
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Chasing the International Space Station
Explanation: Blasting into the predawn sky on Tuesday, October 13, a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are headed for low Earth orbit in this stunning timelapse video captured from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Starting with a launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Falcon and Dragon are chasing the International Space Station on NASA’s 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission. On cue, the space station itself enters the frame from the top. Almost 8 seconds into the 30 second timelapse. the bright streak of the ISS appears heading “down” toward the horizon. The first and second stages of the Falcon 9 are separating as the spectacular exhaust plume jellyfish grows, already catching the light of the rising Sun. The visible sequence of first stage boost back, re-entry, and landing burns begins around 20 seconds into the video. With the second stage following the ISS toward the distant horizon, the jellyfish plume continues to drift in the predawn sky, even after the successful first stage landing at planet Earth’s Landing Zone 40.
Tomorrow’s picture: pixels in space
| Date | October 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Video Credit: | Eric Holland |
| Authors & editors: | Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff, Keighley Rockcliffe |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |
Source: APOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station