NASA astronaut Nichole Rhea Ayers captured an extraordinary image of a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as a "gigantic jet" or "sprite" from the International Space Station (ISS) while orbiting approximately 250 miles above Earth. This phenomenon, a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), consists of powerful electrical discharges that shoot upward from thunderstorm clouds into the upper atmosphere, reaching altitudes between 50 and 130 kilometers and sometimes extending up to 60 kilometers in length. The event was observed over the region spanning Mexico and the southern United States, including areas near the Texas–Mexico border with visible city lights from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. Unlike typical lightning that strikes downward, gigantic jets are rare, bright red lightning flashes that burst upward, forming bright branching structures that penetrate the mesosphere. These phenomena are triggered by intense electrical activity within thunderstorms and are not well understood due to their fleeting nature and high-altitude occurrence. Ayers' photograph is considered one of the clearest and most detailed images of such a jet taken from above, providing valuable visual data for atmospheric and lightning research.