NASA astronaut Nichole Rhea Ayers captured 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 event, classified as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE), is an upper-atmospheric lightning discharge that shoots upward from the tops of thunderstorms. The phenomenon was photographed over the region spanning Mexico and the southern United States, including areas near the Texas–Mexico border. Gigantic jets can reach heights close to 100 kilometers and are characterized by bright, branching discharges of cold plasma that are rarely visible from the ground and last only about 100 milliseconds. The photo taken by Ayers is regarded as one of the clearest images of such an event from above. These sprites occur at altitudes between 50 and 130 kilometers and are triggered by intense electrical activity in thunderstorms. The storm producing the gigantic jet was observed near major Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. The event provides valuable insight into upper atmospheric electrical phenomena that are not well understood and are seldom captured on camera.