Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut, has completed four separate space missions since his first journey in 2002, spending a total of 590 days in Earth orbit. Among his many space-based observations, he has captured images of the Great Barrier Reef, an annular solar eclipse in October 2023, and London’s River Thames from orbit. His most recent image, taken from the International Space Station on 11 January 2025, shows Comet C/2024 G3, a celestial object that has sparked curiosity due to its unusual, tentacle-like features. Pettit’s space activities extend beyond planetary observations. He has also experimented with growing potatoes in microgravity, an endeavor inspired by Andy Weir’s novel The Martian and its film adaptation. The idea of cultivating food in space has gained urgency as space agencies like NASA and China’s CNSA plan to establish long-term habitats on the Moon and Mars. Pettit’s potato experiment, conducted during Expedition 72—a seven-month mission on the ISS from September 2024 to April 2025—aims to explore the feasibility of growing nutrient-rich crops in extraterrestrial environments. Pettit shared a striking image of a purple potato on his X channel on 20 March 2026, captioning it “Spudnik-1, an orbiting potato on the International Space Station.” The potato’s unusual coloration is not a result of being grown in space but rather a natural trait of certain purple potato varieties. He humorously compared his space-grown spud to Sputnik-1, the Soviet Union’s first artificial satellite launched in 1957. The image highlights the playful yet practical approach Pettit takes to space research, blending scientific curiosity with a nod to pop culture.#nasa #international_space_station #don_pettit #comet_c2024_g3 #great_barrier_reef
NASA astronaut Don Pettit shared a photo of a purple, egg-shaped potato he grew in space, revealing it as part of his space gardening hobby. The potato, which he called "Spudnik-1," was cultivated in an improvised grow light terrarium on the International Space Station. Pettit explained that the potato's purple color is due to high levels of anthocyanins, a compound also found in blueberries and other fruits. He emphasized the practicality of growing potatoes in space, noting their efficiency as a food source due to their high edible nutrition-to-total plant mass ratio. This aligns with Andy Weir's depiction of potatoes in his book and film "The Martian," where they are a critical survival crop for astronauts. The potato's growth highlights the growing focus on food production in space, particularly for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. Space agencies worldwide are investing in technologies to enable sustainable food cultivation beyond Earth. NASA has already tested growing lettuce, leafy greens, and peppers using its Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) programs. The European Space Agency (ESA) explores bioregenerative systems, which rely on microorganisms and stem cells to produce food, while the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) experiments with automated greenhouse techniques. These efforts are driven by the challenge of supplying food for extended missions, where transporting all necessary nutrients from Earth would be impractical. Hydroponics, which uses nutrient-rich water instead of soil, and bioreactors that convert yeast or bacterial fermentation into protein are among the key technologies being developed. The DLR also draws insights from its research in Antarctica, where extreme conditions mirror those of space.#nasa #andy_weir #international_space_station #don_pettit #spudnik_1
NASA astronaut Don Pettit’s experiment growing a purple potato in microgravity aboard the International Space Station sparked global fascination, with the unusual appearance of the sprouting tuber mistaken for an alien object. The image of a smooth, purple, egg-shaped form with tendrils floating in zero gravity quickly went viral, prompting reactions ranging from curiosity to fear. However, the object was revealed to be a space-grown purple potato, part of a small-scale gardening experiment that highlights the potential for food production beyond Earth. The viral image, which appeared to defy reality, showcased a potato in an unfamiliar environment. Its deep purple color and tentacle-like growths made it look more like a science fiction prop than a vegetable. The absence of gravity altered the potato’s growth pattern, causing roots and shoots to extend in multiple directions rather than following the directional cues of Earth. This created an eerie, otherworldly appearance that captivated the internet, with many struggling to reconcile the image with anything familiar. The potato’s unique color stems from anthocyanins, pigments also found in blueberries and red cabbage. These compounds are naturally present in certain potato varieties, giving them their vibrant hue. The experiment’s focus on a purple potato was partly due to its visual contrast, which made growth patterns easier to observe in the microgravity environment. Without soil to anchor it, the potato’s surface remained smooth and unblemished, further enhancing its alien-like appearance under controlled lighting. Pettit’s experiment involved adapting traditional agricultural methods to the constraints of the ISS. A light source replaced sunlight, and Velcro patches secured the potato in place.#nasa #international_space_station #don_pettit #purple_potato #microgravity
