NASA Astronaut Captures Super Typhoon from ISS with iPhone
On July 14, 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon, a U.S. Space Force colonel, used his iPhone to capture a stunning image of a super typhoon from the ISS's Cupola. He posted the photo on Instagram, stating, "The Pacific Ocean this morning from the cupola with an iPhone." Experts identify the storm as Typhoon Dolphin, which escalated to category 5 last week after developing from a tropical depression on July 26. It made landfall in eastern China, including Shanghai, on August 9, bringing winds of up to 94 mph and prompting the evacuation of over 1 million people. The typhoon is now weakening and dissipating. Since February, astronauts have had access to smartphones in space for email and browsing. For more updates, visit Menon's Instagram (@astro_anil).
Key facts
- Anil Menon is a colonel in the United States Space Force, emergency medicine physician, and NASA astronaut.
- Menon has been aboard the International Space Station since July 14, 2026.
- He captured the image from the ISS's Cupola using an iPhone.
- The typhoon is likely Typhoon Dolphin, which reached category 5 strength.
- Typhoon Dolphin began as a tropical depression on July 26 and reached eastern China on August 9.
- Winds reached up to 94 mph (151 km/h) and forced over 1 million people to evacuate.
- Since February, NASA astronauts have been allowed to bring smartphones on missions.
- Astronauts can access email, browse the web, and make IP phone calls via Wi-Fi in space.
Entities
Artists
- Anil Menon
Institutions
- NASA
- United States Space Force
- International Space Station
- Artemis II
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Pacific Ocean
- Central Pacific
- China
- Shanghai
- Japan
- Okinawa Island
- Moon