Astronaut Jessica Meir Captures Hurricane Polo from Orbit

Floating 250 miles above the Pacific, astronaut Jessica Meir captured a striking close-up of Hurricane Polo’s eye from the International Space Station’s cupola. The images, shared on social media, highlight both the immense scale of the storm and the unpredictable nature of tracking extreme weather patterns from low Earth orbit.

Editorial·September 25, 2026·reads: 373

Astronaut Jessica Meir Captures Hurricane Polo from Orbit

Meir encountered the cyclone unexpectedly during a routine shift, noting that she plans to coordinate more precise imaging during her next orbital pass. Beyond the technical interest, the astronaut extended a message of caution to residents in Mexico, expressing hope that the Pacific waters stabilize before her crew’s scheduled splashdown in October.

These perspectives from the cupola provide a distinct vantage point for monitoring storm development, though they remain secondary to dedicated meteorological satellites. For Meir, who frequently documents her time aboard the station, the encounter served as a vivid reminder of the harsh conditions beneath the orbital path. Her followers responded with messages of concern for those in the storm's trajectory, while acknowledging the logistical challenges the system poses for the upcoming return mission.