As our interest and curiosity in space grows daily, NASA continues its work. On July 3, 2025, an incredible event was witnessed on the International Space Station (ISS). This image, one of the rarest celestial events, was captured by NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers. Here is the “Giant Jet” image released by NASA.
What is a Giant Jet, and why is it so rare?
The image captured during the event was initially thought to be a “sprite.” Subsequent research confirmed it was a much rarer “giant jet.” Dr. Burcu Koşar, principal investigator of the Spritacular project, emphasized the significance of the event and drew attention by saying, “Nichole Ayers recorded a giant jet, an extraordinary and very rare type of TLE, from the ISS.”
Giant jets are powerful electrical discharges that rise rapidly from the peaks of thunderstorms into the upper atmosphere. They form a massive electrical bridge between the cloud tops and the atmosphere, approximately 100 kilometers above. These phenomena are so rapid and brief that they are often spotted accidentally from passenger aircraft or by ground-based cameras while filming for other purposes.
These mysterious events are often confused with other Transient Bright Events (TLEs), such as sprites. Sprites are more common than giant jets, occurring after a powerful lightning discharge at an altitude of about 80 kilometers. They typically appear as a reddish glow and can take on jellyfish-like, columnar, or carrot-like shapes, spreading for tens of kilometers. They can also be seen in conjunction with other types of TLEs, such as haloes and ultraviolet rings of light (ELVES).
All of these transient bright events (TLEs) present a hidden spectacle of light in the upper atmosphere. NASA and scientists state that these rare images are vital for understanding electrical processes in the atmosphere and investigating their potential impact on communication systems.
The Atmosphere–Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), a system specifically designed to capture these unusual events and mounted on the ISS since 2018, can record even brief flashes lasting as little as a heartbeat. This has resulted in the collection of far more data than anticipated, and significant steps are being taken to unravel the mystery of these mysterious atmospheric phenomena.
