NASA Astronaut’s Alien-Like Space Photo Captivates Internet

A photo shared from the International Space Station sparked a wave of online reactions. The image looked strangely organic and surprised many followers.

What viewers saw

The picture showed an egg-shaped object with tendril-like growths. Some commenters compared it to science fiction life forms.

One social media user wrote, “Kill it with fire.” The post quickly attracted attention across platforms.

What the astronaut explained

A NASA astronaut identified the subject as a potato. He nicknamed the specimen “Spudnik-1.”

The potato was part of a personal space garden he tended during Expedition 72. He said it was an early purple variety.

How it was set up

The astronaut attached a small Velcro hook to anchor the tuber. The hook held the potato in an improvised grow-light terrarium.

He carried the seeds and care for the plants in off-duty hours. The setup was simple and experimental.

Why he grew potatoes

The astronaut cited inspiration from Andy Weir’s novel The Martian. That story highlights how potatoes can sustain crews.

He noted potatoes are efficient in edible nutrition relative to total plant mass. He said they will matter for future exploration.

NASA’s plant research in orbit

NASA has grown plants aboard the station for years. The aim is to study growth in microgravity and supply fresh food.

• Three types of lettuce
• Chinese cabbage
• Mizuna mustard
• Red Russian kale
• Zinnia flowers

These successes help inform longer missions and life-support planning. Research continues to expand crop options for crews.

The NASA astronaut’s alien-like space photo briefly captivated internet users. The image turned out to be a small but meaningful research moment on the station.

Coverage by Filmogaz.com.