'Dragon Blazing Across The Sky': Elon Musk Reacts As SpaceX Capsule Lights Up California Night | Watch

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 23:41 IST

As the capsule tore into Earth’s atmosphere at close to eight kilometres per second, its outer heat shield was exposed to temperatures of nearly 1,600 degrees Celsius.

This plasma shield, often mistaken for flames, is created when air molecules break apart under intense heat and pressure (Credits: SpaceX)

Residents across California witnessed a dramatic sight on Thursday night as a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule tore through the sky, glowing brightly like a meteor during its return to Earth.

Reacting to the visuals shared online, SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted on X, saying, “Dragon blazing across the sky 10 times faster than a supersonic bullet." His comment came as videos of the spacecraft’s fiery descent quickly spread across social media.

The capsule, named Endeavour, was carrying four astronauts from the Crew-11 mission back from the International Space Station. As it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft became visible across large parts of California, from Southern California to San Francisco, leaving behind a bright trail of light.

The striking glow was caused by extreme heat generated during re-entry. As the capsule slammed into the atmosphere at nearly eight kilometres per second, its outer heat shield faced temperatures of around 1,600 degrees Celsius. The air around it heated even further, forming a plasma cocoon — a glowing layer of superheated gas that wrapped around the spacecraft.

This plasma shield, often mistaken for flames, is created when air molecules break apart under intense heat and pressure. The result is a brilliant orange-and-gold streak across the night sky, giving the appearance of a “blazing meteor".

Inside the capsule were four crew members: Nasa astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. While the visuals outside looked dramatic, the astronauts remained safe throughout the descent.

This mission marked a historic moment for the International Space Station. For the first time in its 25-year history, a crewed mission was brought back early due to a medical evacuation. Nasa confirmed that one astronaut required diagnostic care available only on Earth. The agency said the crew member is stable and that the return was a precaution. The astronaut’s identity has not been disclosed for privacy reasons.

After the intense descent, parachutes deployed smoothly, and the capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 2.21 pm IST. Recovery teams moved in as dolphins were seen swimming near the floating spacecraft.

Commander Zena Cardman summed up the moment simply, saying, “It’s good to be home."

The mission concluded after 167 days in space. Attention now turns to the crew’s recovery and preparations for the upcoming Crew-12 launch.

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