25 years ago, a NASA astronaut witnessed the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks from space and captured a haunting photograph of smoke rising over New York City

In one of the most shocking tragedies of the past three decades, NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson witnessed the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks from space on September 11, 2001. Culbertson, who was the commander of the International Space Station (ISS), watched from roughly 250 miles above Earth as a massive plume of smoke spread across New York City after the World Trade Center towers were attacked. He captured the haunting scene with a camera, creating one of the most remarkable photographs of the 9/11 aftermath.

A VIEW OF 9/11 ATTACKS FROM SPACE