NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed and filmed a remarkable southern aurora from orbit while sheltering inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station. The images were taken during precautionary safety procedures as Russian cosmonauts worked to address a persistent air leak in a section of the station’s Russian segment.
The rare photographs combine two very different aspects of life aboard the ISS: the routine management of technical issues and an extraordinary view of Earth’s atmosphere illuminated by a recent solar event.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station frequently document natural phenomena visible from orbit. Auroras are among the most sought-after sights, offering sweeping views that are impossible to replicate from the ground. Yet the circumstances surrounding Meir‘s latest images were far from routine.
A Southern Aurora Lights Up The View From Orbit
The images shared by Jessica Meir reveal bright ribbons of auroral light stretching across Earth’s atmosphere. Seen from the vantage point of low Earth orbit, the phenomenon appeared as winding, luminous structures extending toward the horizon. According to Meir’s post on X, the display occurred following a recent solar event.
“There is a lot going on right now on the Space station, but fortunately we are all safe and witnessed a spectacular southern aurora show yesterday thanks to a recent solar event,” she wrote.
Accompanied by video footage, the photographs offered an unusually detailed view of the phenomenon. Although auroras are a familiar sight from the ISS, the combination of timing, perspective and operational conditions made these images particularly remarkable.
For observers on Earth, auroras often appear as shimmering curtains of light. From orbit, astronauts can see the phenomenon spread across vast portions of the atmosphere, revealing patterns and shapes that are rarely visible from the ground.
Crew-12 Remained Aboard Dragon
The backdrop to Meir‘s photographs was an ongoing maintenance operation aboard the ISS. On June 5, the four Crew-12 astronauts entered the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that had transported them to the station.
NASA spokespersonBethany Stevenssaid, the crew took shelter inside the capsule “out of an abundance of caution” while two Russian cosmonauts attempted to address an air leak affecting the station.
The cosmonauts involved in the operation were Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. Their work focused on efforts to resolve a leak that has been a concern for station managers for some time.
The precaution reflected routine safety practices aimed at protecting crew members during critical operations. When required, docked spacecraft such as Dragon can serve as both safe havens and return vehicles.
ISS Leak Still Under Review
The issue at the center of the operation involves the PrK transfer tunnel connected to the Russian Zvezda service module. As stated by a BBC report, cracks in this tunnel have been responsible for a persistent air leak that has required repeated monitoring and repair efforts.
Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, has managed the problem through periodic maintenance campaigns. The leak is not a new issue, but a recurring concern for station managers and engineers. As NASA stated in a release:
“NASA and Roscosmos have worked together to identify the root cause while Roscosmos has been applying leak mitigation measures, including temporary and permanent sealants.”
Space.com noted that the leak had recently begun presenting more significant challenges, prompting renewed repair attempts. That change led mission managers to implement additional precautions while the work was underway.
