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NASA Astronaut's 'Spudnik-1' Potato Sparks Alien Theories Online

3/27/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Donald Pettit, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut, posted a photo aboard the International Space Station that sparked online excitement.
The photo showed an object initially mistaken for an alien, which Pettit explained was an early purple potato he grew in his space garden during Expedition 72, humorously dubbed "Spudnik-1."
The potato was secured with Velcro in an improvised grow light terrarium.

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Story summary

Donald Pettit, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut, posted a photo aboard the International Space Station that sparked online excitement.
The photo showed an object initially mistaken for an alien, which Pettit explained was an early purple potato he grew in his space garden during Expedition 72, humorously dubbed "Spudnik-1."
The potato was secured with Velcro in an improvised grow light terrarium.