NASA astronaut sitting from ISS captures a close friend flying into space

The image of the smoke spiraling between the Earth's atmosphere and the bright star above is a picture of Russia's Soyuz rocket in the night sky, carrying Christina Koch's best friend.

The photo was taken by NASA astronaut Christina Koch on September 25 from her position at the International Space Station (ISS).

"That's what the space station sees when your best friend fulfills his lifelong dream of flying to space. The moment that begins the second phase of the process! Can't wait longer to catch it. you on board, crew of Soyuz 61! ", Koch wrote on Twitter.

Russia's Soyuz rocket launched into space taken from the International Space Station (ISS).(Photo: CNN).

Aboard the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft (expedition 61) , launched from the Baikonur space airport in Kazakhstan, is Koch's best friend, NASA spacecraft engineer Jessica Meir.

Accompanying with Meir is Oleg Skripochka, from Roscosmos (Russian space agency) and Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, the first astronaut of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) into space.

According to Koch's explanation, the smokescreen is the vestige of the spacecraft after being launched.

Images taken from the ground also show the strange shape of the light trail the rocket created on its way to the ISS.

Pictures taken from the launch site in Kazakhstan.(Photo: Instagram).

This is not the first time Koch has taken stunning images of space. She reduced the exposure on her camera to record this special visual effect. This is also why no stars are seen around.

Soyuz rocket flew to the ISS space station at 15:42 (EDT) the same day.

During the expedition, Meir and other crew members will install new lithium-ion batteries for two of the space stations' solar panels, according to NASA.

Almansoori astronaut will only spend 8 days at the ISS before returning to Earth.