NASA astronauts create an optical illusion by "holding" the Cygnus XL spacecraft with their own hands aboard the ISS.

NASA astronauts create an optical illusion by “holding” the Cygnus XL spacecraft with their own hands aboard the ISS.

Written by Andriely Medeiros de Araújo

Published on 17/04/2026 at 18:37

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See how NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway took advantage of the arrival of the Cygnus XL spacecraft to create an amazing optical illusion on the ISS.

While the Artemis II mission celebrated the return of its crew to Earth, the routine of discoveries and relaxation continued for those remaining in orbit. On the last day of April 13, NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway, who are part of the current crew of the International Space Station (ISS), starred in a curious moment by using an optical illusion to “hold” the Cygnus XL spacecraft with their hands.

The fun recording occurred during the approach maneuvers of the Northrop Grumman cargo vehicle, which was transporting essential supplies for the continuation of scientific research in space.

The future of the International Space Station and its legacy

The ISS, where Chris and Jack filmed, is a monumental structure 109 meters long.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

What did the Cygnus take to space?

The importance of this delivery goes far beyond visual entertainment. The vehicle arrived loaded with over 5 tons of crucial items for human survival and work outside the planet.

See how NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway took advantage of the arrival of the Cygnus XL spacecraft to create an incredible optical illusion on the ISS. Photo: Disclosure/ISS,NASA, Jessica Meir via X

The management of these loads is a meticulous task that began immediately after the hatches were opened for the unloading of the Commercial Resupply Services 24 (CRSS24) mission.

Among the delivered items, the following stand out:

New scientific experiments for various fields of study.

Hardware and equipment for the maintenance of the ISS structure.

Fresh food to improve the diet of the crew in orbit.

Logistical support items for daily maintenance operations.

Astronaut Jessica Meir celebrated the success of the operation on her social media, highlighting the efficiency of those involved: “Congratulations to @Astro_ChrisW and @astro_hathaway for the first capture of a cargo vehicle using the Canadarm from @csa_asc at @Space_Station! Mission accomplished today.”

Congratulations to @Astro_ChrisW and @astro_hathaway on their first cargo vehicle capture using the @csa_asc Canadarm on the @Space_Station! Mission accomplished today. Hatch opening and cargo ops, including many scientific experiments (and even some fresh food!), commence early… pic.twitter.com/nSxobMYIue
— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) April 13, 2026

The message reinforces that success depends on collaboration between the agency, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX, which launched the cargo ship on a Falcon 9 rocket on April 11.

Technical challenges of docking with the Cygnus XL spacecraft

Connecting two gigantic objects in space is not a simple task. As the spacecraft travel at extreme speeds, any miscalculation can pose severe risks to the structure of the ISS and the lives of the crew members.

The alignment must be impeccable for the docking devices to fit together without causing material damage or loss of pressure. Therefore, the manual capture through the Canadarm2 robotic arm is a high-tension process.

After being held by the mechanism, the Cygnus XL spacecraft was directed to the station’s door that faces our planet. This technical success allowed the unloading routine to begin without delays, ensuring that scientific experiments were initiated according to the schedule set by the teams on the ground.

The viral prank was recorded moments before the cargo ship was officially docked.

With information from Revista Galileu

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NASA astronauts create an optical illusion by “holding” the Cygnus XL spacecraft with their own hands aboard the ISS.

See how NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway took advantage of the arrival of the Cygnus XL spacecraft to create an amazing optical illusion on the ISS.

The future of the International Space Station and its legacy

What did the Cygnus take to space?

Technical challenges of docking with the Cygnus XL spacecraft

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NASA astronauts create an optical illusion by “holding” the Cygnus XL spacecraft with their own hands aboard the ISS.

See how NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jack Hathaway took advantage of the arrival of the Cygnus XL spacecraft to create an amazing optical illusion on the ISS.

The future of the International Space Station and its legacy

What did the Cygnus take to space?

Technical challenges of docking with the Cygnus XL spacecraft

Libya built over 4,000 kilometers of underground pipelines to bring water from the Sahara to coastal cities in a project that the government itself called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

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