NASA Astronaut’s ‘Alien Egg’ Photo from the ISS Turns Out to Be Something Much More Earthly.

Potatoes in Space

According to TSN.ua: NASA astronaut Don Pettit recently shared a photo of an object that initially sparked online speculation about extraterrestrial life—resembling an alien egg—but was later revealed to be a simple purple potato grown during Expedition 72 aboard the International Space Station. The unusual appearance of the vegetable caught the attention of social media users, leading to widespread curiosity and even theories about its possible alien origins.

This particular potato is considered one of the most efficient crops in terms of edible nutrition relative to total plant mass, making it a strong candidate for sustaining astronauts in orbit. NASA scientists plan to continue experimenting with a variety of crops on the ISS, including:

• tomatoes
• peppers
• berries
• legumes

Researchers are also exploring the potential for growing food on the Moon, which could significantly improve the self-sufficiency of future space missions.

As highlighted by Andy Weir in his book and film The Martian, potatoes will have a place in the future of space exploration. So I thought it would be good to start now.

Don Pettit

These experiments with purple potatoes on the ISS not only demonstrate that food can be cultivated in space but also open up new possibilities for long-term space nutrition.

This case highlights both the scientific progress in space-based plant cultivation and the importance of agronomic research for sustainable food systems during extended missions. Growing food under resource-limited conditions will be a critical factor for the success of future expeditions to the Moon and Mars, underscoring the growing role of agriculture in space exploration.