APOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station
The post APOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station appeared first on NASA Science .
On October 16, 2026, NASA released an astronomical photograph of the day, showcasing a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft chasing the International Space Station (ISS) in low Earth orbit. The image was captured from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, during NASA's 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission. The Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
As the timelapse video commenced, the bright streak of the ISS emerged from the top of the frame almost 8 seconds into the 30-second sequence. Simultaneously, the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 separated, and the exhaust plume of the rocket grew larger, catching the light of the rising Sun. The visible sequence of the first stage boost back, re-entry, and landing burns began around 20 seconds into the video.
After the second stage followed the ISS toward the distant horizon, the jellyfish plume continued to drift in the predawn sky, even after the successful first stage landing at Landing Zone 40. The image was credited to Eric Holland, with the authorship attributed to Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff, and Keighley Rockcliffe. The image and its accompanying explanation were a service of the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) at NASA/GSFC, NASA Science Activation, and Michigan Tech. U.
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- APOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station science.nasa.gov
