NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day on Oct. 16, 2026, featured a timelapse video of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft toward the International Space Station. The launch occurred before dawn on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
NASA described the flight as its 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission. The Falcon 9 and Dragon were headed for low Earth orbit to catch up with the space station. The featured video was captured from Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, and NASA credited the footage to Eric Holland.
In the 30-second timelapse, the International Space Station enters the frame from above, appearing as a bright streak moving toward the horizon. NASA’s explanation says the station becomes visible at nearly eight seconds into the video, around the time the Falcon 9’s first and second stages separate. The rocket’s exhaust plume, illuminated by the rising sun, spreads across the predawn sky.
The footage also captures portions of the first stage’s return sequence. NASA says the booster’s boost-back, re-entry and landing burns begin at about the 20-second mark. The second stage continues toward the horizon, while the plume remains visible after the first stage lands at Landing Zone 40.
The daily feature is part of NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, which presents a different image or photograph of the universe with an explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Oct. 16 entry lists Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti, Robert Nemiroff and Keighley Rockcliffe as authors and editors. NASA’s page also identified the service as involving the Astrophysics Science Division at Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Science Activation and Michigan Technological University.
The source describes the launch and video sequence but does not provide further details about the cargo aboard Dragon or the spacecraft’s arrival at the station.
