👨‍🚀 An optical illusion in orbit

Who would have thought that an orbital resupply maneuver could become an opportunity to play with perspective? Two NASA astronauts, Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway, turned the capture of the Cygnus XL spacecraft into a fun optical illusion from the ISS cupola.

This snapshot shows that even 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, humor is still in order.


On April 13, the two astronauts maneuvered the robotic arm Canadarm2 to catch the Cygnus XL, which had arrived two days earlier after a launch by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The cargo ship carried more than 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg) of freight, including scientific equipment and fresh food.

Once captured, it was installed on an Earth-facing port of the ISS. Before this maneuver, Williams reached out as if to grab the spacecraft, creating a very convincing size illusion.

More prosaically, astronaut Jessica Meir congratulated her colleagues on social media for the successful capture with Canadarm2. She specified that the opening of the hatches and the start of loading operations were scheduled for the next day, with many scientific experiments and fresh produce on board.

The Cygnus XL mission, named NG-24, lifted off on April 11 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This flight is part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, which entrusts private companies with supplying the ISS. The spacecraft is distinguished by its two circular solar panels, giving it a recognizable silhouette.