NASA Astronaut Captures Unusual Purple Object on ISS—It’s Surprisingly Earthly
NASA astronaut Don Pettit recently published a striking photo taken aboard the International Space Station. The image showed a small, purple object that sparked online debate. Viewers first guessed an alien artifact. It turned out to be a potato.
Veteran astronaut and photographer
Pettit began his spaceflights in 2002. He has flown four separate missions. His cumulative time in orbit totals about 590 days.
He is also a noted space photographer. Pettit has captured comets such as C/2024 G3 and C/2023 A3. He also photographed the October 2024 aurora display from orbit.
The purple object on the ISS
The NASA astronaut’s photo showed a purple object that many found mysterious. The item proved surprisingly earthly rather than extraterrestrial.
Pettit said the tuber was part of his personal space garden during Expedition 72. That mission ran roughly seven months, from September 2024 to April 2025.
He shared the photograph on X on March 20, 2026. Pettit dubbed the item “Spudnik-1,” nodding to Sputnik-1. Sputnik-1 launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.
How the potato was grown and secured
Pettit grew potatoes during off-duty time aboard the station. He used a small grow-light terrarium for the experiment.
A spot of hook Velcro anchored the tuber in place. The purple hue reflects known terrestrial varieties of potato.
Why potatoes matter for space exploration
Potatoes offer a strong edible-to-mass nutrition ratio. That efficiency makes them attractive for long-term missions.
Andy Weir’s The Martian highlighted potatoes as practical crew crops. NASA and other agencies view plant growth as key for lunar and Mars outposts.
Photographs credited to NASA and Don Pettit. Filmogaz.com will follow further developments from the station.
