NASA astronaut Don Pettit has finally shared the real story behind a bizarre, tentacled object photographed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that had many people online convinced it was an alien. This image, which quickly went viral, had social media users scratching their heads and even feeling a little uneasy.
According to UNILAD, the picture, shared by Pettit on X, shows a grey, lumpy object that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi flick. It’s got these weird, tentacle-like sprouts coming out of its surface, earning it the nickname ‘Spudnik-1’.
One commenter wrote that they “genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.” Another user added, “Somehow the Velcro makes it look alien. Time to bring back quarantines,” highlighting how the small details contributed to the spooky vibe. Someone else ominously quipped, “That’s how it starts,” clearly leaning into the alien invasion theory.
However, the truth turned out to be far less sinister and actually pretty cool
That “alien” object is simply a potato that Pettit, an avid horticulturist, grew himself while on the ISS. He’s pretty passionate about his space gardening, apparently doing it in his off-duty time. Pettit explained the whole setup: “This is an early purple potato, complete with a spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow-light terrarium.” He mentioned he brought potatoes along for his space garden during Expedition 72.
Interestingly, Pettit also pointed out that potatoes aren’t the most efficient crops when you look at the ratio of edible nutrition to the plant’s total mass, including its roots. Still, they hold a special place in space lore, especially after playing such a crucial role in The Martian, both the novel and the 2015 movie starring Matt Damon.
One user and asked Pettit how growing potatoes in space compared to Earth, wondering if the plant knew to send shoots up and roots down in microgravity. They also asked for pictures of a mature plant. Pettit replied that without gravity, the roots just grow in all directions. He also noted that every plant he’s ever grown in space grows significantly slower than it would on Earth, which is a key challenge.
NASA isn’t just growing plants for fun, though; it’s a critical part of planning for future missions. Fresh fruits and vegetables are going to be essential for astronauts on those super long journeys because the vitamins in pre-packaged foods degrade over time. Maintaining a healthy diet in deep space is a huge hurdle, and fresh produce could be a game-changer.
Growing crops in orbit comes with its own unique set of problems, however. Without gravity, water doesn’t behave normally; it can form bubbles around roots, which isn’t great for plant health. Because of this, plants need to be grown in super carefully controlled systems that perfectly balance air, nutrients, and moisture.
To tackle these issues, NASA has developed specialized “space gardens” like the Vegetable Production System and the Advanced Plant Habitat. These setups use LED lighting and special pillow-like growing pods, letting astronauts cultivate things like lettuce, kale, and even flowers on the ISS.
Beyond just nutrition, there’s a massive psychological benefit too. Astronauts have reported that taking care of plants in space can really boost their mood and offer a comforting reminder of Earth during those incredibly long missions.
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